NEW DELHI, Nov 9: Parliament’s Monsoon session has remained formally open for 88 days since both Houses were adjourned indefinitely on August 13, surpassing the previous record of 87 days set in 2008.
As of Monday, neither the Lok Sabha nor the Rajya Sabha had been formally prorogued, making the current period the longest such interval in parliamentary history.
The government’s decision to keep the session technically active has triggered speculation about a possible special sitting to discuss a proposed constitutional amendment concerning the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The proposed legislation seeks to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from the existing 543 seats to a maximum of 850 through a delimitation exercise, potentially paving the way for implementing women’s reservation in legislative bodies.
Keeping the existing session open offers the government greater flexibility in convening Parliament at short notice. An extended sitting within the same session requires a minimum notice period of two days, compared with at least 14 days for summoning an entirely new session.
The possibility assumes significance as a similar Constitution Amendment Bill failed to secure the required majority in the Lok Sabha during a special sitting of the Budget session on April 17.
Under parliamentary procedure, prorogation formally brings a session to an end. However, the Constitution does not specify a fixed deadline for proroguing either House after it has been adjourned sine die, or indefinitely.
Consequently, keeping Parliament unprorogued for an extended period does not automatically constitute a constitutional violation or procedural irregularity.
Historical records show that the previous longest interval was recorded in 2008, when Parliament remained unprorogued for 87 days. Other notable instances include 76 days in 1987, 54 days in 1989, 49 days each in 2006 and 2013, and 41 days in 1963.
The 2008 precedent was linked to an important political development when the Lok Sabha reconvened on July 21 and 22 to take up a no-confidence motion against the then United Progressive Alliance government.
Following the proceedings, the House continued without formal prorogation before reconvening on October 17. It was subsequently adjourned on October 24, with December 10 fixed for its next sitting.
The present situation has once again brought parliamentary procedures into focus, particularly the distinction between adjournment and prorogation and the government’s flexibility in determining the timing of legislative business.
While no formal announcement regarding another sitting has been indicated in the provided account, the continued status of the Monsoon session leaves open the procedural possibility of Parliament meeting again without initiating an entirely new session.