Joint sittong is provided by the Constitution to resolve a deadlock be...
- Joint sitting is provided by the Constitution to resolve a deadlock between the two Houses of Parliament over the passage of a bill. A deadlock is deemed to have taken place under any one of the following three situations after a bill has been passed by one House and transmitted to the other House:
1. If the bill is rejected by the other House
2. If the Houses have finally disagreed as to the amendments to be made in the bill; or 3. If more than six months have elapsed from the date of the receipt of the bill by the other House without the bill being passed by it. - In the above three situations, the President can summon both the Houses to meet in a joint sitting for the purpose of deliberating and voting on the bill. This sitting is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
- This provision of joint sitting is applicable to ordinary bills or financial bills only and not to money bills or Constitutional amendment bills. In the case of a money bill, the Lok Sabha has overriding powers, while a Constitutional amendment bill must be passed by each House separately.
Joint sittong is provided by the Constitution to resolve a deadlock be...
Joint sitting of Parliament is a provision provided by the Constitution of India to resolve a deadlock between the two Houses of Parliament over the passage of a bill. This provision allows both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to sit together and vote on a bill. However, not all categories of bills can be subjected to a joint sitting.
The correct answer is option 'A' - only ordinary bills can be subjected to a joint sitting.
Here's why:
1. Ordinary Bill:
- An ordinary bill is a bill that does not fall under the category of a money bill or a constitutional amendment bill.
- If such a bill is passed by one House of Parliament but is rejected, amended, or not taken up for consideration by the other House, a deadlock arises.
- In such a scenario, the President can summon a joint sitting of both Houses where the bill will be discussed and voted upon.
- The bill is considered to have been passed if it is supported by a majority of the total number of members present and voting in both Houses.
2. Constitutional Amendment Bill:
- A constitutional amendment bill is a bill that seeks to make changes to the provisions of the Constitution of India.
- A joint sitting cannot be convened for a constitutional amendment bill.
- The Constitution explicitly states that a constitutional amendment bill can be passed only if it is supported by a special majority, which includes a majority of the total membership of each House of Parliament, as well as a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.
3. Money Bill:
- A money bill is a bill that exclusively deals with matters related to taxes, borrowing of money by the government, expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India, etc.
- A joint sitting cannot be convened for a money bill.
- The Constitution provides that a money bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha and cannot be amended or rejected by the Rajya Sabha.
In conclusion, a joint sitting of Parliament can be convened only for ordinary bills. Constitutional amendment bills and money bills are excluded from the purview of joint sittings.