Frosty and bitter

Context: The first winter session of 18th Lok Sabha ended on December 20 as one
of the least productive and most acrimonious in history. The acrimony peaked
with the Opposition turning a reference by Home Minister Amit Shah to Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar into a stick to beat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with. Mr.
Shah’s misspoken remarks were taken out of context by the Opposition which
feels that it is par for the course. Productivity in the Rajya Sabha was 40%,
as it met for 43 hours and 27 minutes of the schedule. The Lok Sabha functioned
for 54.5% of its scheduled time. The session was scheduled to take up 16 Bills
in the legislative business and the first batch of supplementary grants under
the financial business. Of the 16 Bills, only one Bill, the Bharatiya Vayuyan
Vidheyak, 2024, significant for the civil aviation sector, was passed in both
Houses.

Key points

·       Parliament
Winter Session: J&K Statehood - Discussion on J&K
statehood following the new assembly’s formation and demand for deputy speaker
post in Lok Sabha, vacant since the last term.

Foreign Policy
Topics - Likely debates on India’s stance regarding Israel-Palestine and
Russia-Ukraine conflicts.

Census and Caste
Count - Expected questions on the upcoming census and potential inclusion of a
caste count.

One-Nation, One
Election - Opposition may seek clarity on this proposal, recently approved by the
Union Cabinet.

Waqf (Amendment)
Bill - The Joint Committee is expected to submit its report during this
session.

Constitution Day
Celebration: A special event will be held on November 26 in the Central Hall of
the Samvidhan Sadan to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Constitution’s
adoption.

·       Summoning
of Parliament: Article 85 of the Constitution
empowers the President to summon each House of Parliament. This is done at the
recommendation of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. Once
approved, MPs are officially summoned in the name of the President.

Frequency - The
Constitution mandates that there should not be a gap of more than six months
between two sessions, ensuring that the Parliament meets at least twice a year.

Convention - Although the
Constitution does not provide a fixed schedule, Parliament typically meets for
three sessions each year as per established conventions.

·       Related
Constitutional Articles: Article 79 - Establishes a bicameral
legislature comprising the President, the Rajya Sabha, and the Lok Sabha.

Article 85 - Provides for
the summoning, prorogation, and dissolution of Parliament.

Article 100 - Specifies
voting and quorum requirements for both Houses.

·       Three
Parliamentary Sessions: Budget Session (January–April/May) - The
first and longest session, it typically starts in the last week of January and
ends by April or early May.

Monsoon Session
(July–August) - This session lasts around three weeks and focuses on a range of
legislative matters.

Winter Session
(November–December) - This is the shortest session, generally held from
November to December.

Ø  Special Session
-
A special session is an unscheduled session called outside the three regular
annual sessions (Budget, Monsoon, and Winter) to address urgent matters or
specific issues of national importance.

·       Significance
of sessions: The sessions of Parliament ensure the regular functioning of India’s
legislative process, guided by conventions and constitutional provisions to
address the nation’s needs. Through structured meetings, the Parliament
examines budgetary allocations, legislates on critical issues, and maintains
checks and balances on the executive, fulfilling its constitutional mandate as
the supreme legislative body in India.

·       Reasons
for Low Productivity of Parliament: Frequent disruptions and
protests by opposition parties. Lack of consensus on key issues despite the
ruling party majority. Shorter sessions limiting time for debates and
discussions.

·       Implications
of low productivity: Delays in crucial legislation on taxation,
infrastructure, and social welfare. Hinders accountability and oversight of the
government. Diminishes public trust in democratic institutions. Wastes
resources and negatively impacts the economy.

·       Way
Forward: Foster a culture of respect and professionalism among parliamentarians. Promote
constructive dialogue and debate on policy matters. Strengthen oversight through
rigorous questioning and scrutiny. Ensure timely and transparent information
access for parliamentarians.