The joint sitting of the two houses is called as Joint Session.

A joint sitting of the two houses of the Indian Parliament, namely the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), is called a Joint Session. It is a rare occurrence and is usually held in special circumstances, when there is a deadlock between the two houses on a particular matter.

What is a joint sitting?

A joint sitting is a mechanism provided by the Indian Constitution to resolve disagreements between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on a particular bill. It is prescribed under Article 108 of the Constitution. In such a sitting, both houses come together and sit jointly to discuss and deliberate upon a bill.

When is a joint sitting called?

A joint sitting is called when a bill has been passed by one house and rejected by the other, or when amendments made by one house have been disagreed upon by the other. In such a scenario, the President of India, upon the advice of the government, may summon a joint sitting to resolve the deadlock.

Procedure of a joint sitting:
The procedure for a joint sitting is as follows:

1. Summoning: The President summons a joint sitting by issuing a notification.
2. Presiding officer: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over the joint sitting. If the Speaker is unavailable, the Deputy Speaker or any other member elected by the members present acts as the presiding officer.
3. Voting: Members of both houses have the right to vote in a joint sitting. The decision is taken by a simple majority of the members present and voting.
4. Quorum: The quorum for a joint sitting is one-tenth of the total membership of both houses.
5. Final decision: The decision taken in the joint sitting is considered final and is binding on both houses.

Significance of a joint sitting:
A joint sitting plays a crucial role in resolving deadlocks between the two houses of Parliament. It ensures that important bills are not stuck due to disagreements and allows for a democratic decision-making process. It highlights the principle of checks and balances in the Indian parliamentary system.

Conclusion:
A joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, called a Joint Session, is an important mechanism to resolve disagreements between the two houses. It allows for a democratic decision-making process and ensures that important bills are not stuck due to deadlock.

Joint session