A Bill if referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses needs to be p...
The correct answer is option 'C': A simple majority of the members of both the Houses present and voting.Explanation:
In India, the Parliament consists of two houses - the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). When a Bill is referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses, it means that it is being considered by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha together.
Joint Sitting of Both Houses:A joint sitting of both the Houses is called when a Bill passed by one House is rejected by the other House or when amendments made by one House to a Bill passed by the other House are not accepted by that House. The purpose of a joint sitting is to resolve the differences and arrive at a decision on the Bill.
Procedure for Passing a Bill in a Joint Sitting:When a Bill is referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses, the following procedure is followed:
1. The Bill is discussed and voted upon by the members of both Houses present and voting.
2. If the Bill is passed by a simple majority of the members present and voting, it is deemed to have been passed by both Houses.
3. The Bill is then sent to the President for his/her assent, after which it becomes law.
Meaning of "Simple Majority":A simple majority means that more than half of the members present and voting should vote in favor of the Bill for it to be passed.
Why Option 'C' is the Correct Answer:Option 'C' states that a Bill referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses needs to be passed by a simple majority of the members of both the Houses present and voting. This means that if more than half of the members present and voting, from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, vote in favor of the Bill, it will be considered passed.
Options 'A', 'B', and 'D' mention special majority, absolute majority, and three-fourth majority respectively. However, in the context of a joint sitting of both the Houses, none of these are required. Only a simple majority is needed for the Bill to be passed.
Thus, option 'C' is the correct answer.