by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Modi govt. Sets new precedent
President to address two Joint sittings in a single year
Interim Budget on February 1
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Jan. 9
Departing from the past practice, the Modi government's Interim Budget session beginning January 31 will commence with the President's address to the joint session of Parliament.
This will be first time in several decades that the President will be addressing two joint sessions of Parliament in a single year on the opening day of the session.
The President will open the Parliament's session on January 31 and then again do the same when the 17th Lok Sabha is elected and both houses are summoned by the new government in June, 2019.
In a sudden move the government decided to declare Lok Sabha sine-die last night immediately after the Constitution's amendment bill giving 10% reservations to the upper strata of the society was passed. This was contrary to all conventions and past practices. It had been decided that the Winter session will be adjourned on January 8 and meet on again on January 31. The parliament won't be prorogued.
But last night the Lok Sabha adjourned sine die and the Rajya Sabha will also adjourn sine die after passing the reservation bill.
Highly placed sources in the government say that this decision was taken as Rajya Sabha could not pass several important bill including Triple Talaq, Indian Medical Council (amendment), Aadhaar & other Laws and National Register of Citizenship Bill relating to Assam. The government would now be forced to bring Ordinances to ensure continued implementation of these bills. Otherwise, some of the key bill will lapse. These sources say that if the Parliament is not prorogued, no Ordinance can be issued.
Therefore, it was decided that let both Houses adjourn sine die and fresh session be convened on January 31 and the President be requested to address the joint sitting on the opening day.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is likely to present an interim budget on February 1.
The Budget Session of the Parliament is likely to be held between January 31 and Feb 13, and an interim budget is expected to be presented on February 1.
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs deliberated on the dates for the budget session at a meeting. It is expected to be the last session of the current Lok Sabha as general elections are due in April-May.
Ends
