The Indian Constitution has provisions for holding joint session of th...
Occasions when joint session of the two houses of the Parliament can be held:
1. Passage of a Bill: The Constitution allows for a joint session if a Bill, passed by one house, is rejected by the other house or amendments suggested by one house are not accepted by the other house. In such cases, the President may call for a joint session to resolve the deadlock.
2. Constitutional Amendment: In case of a constitutional amendment, if one house passes the amendment but the other house rejects it or fails to take a decision within the specified time, the President can call for a joint session.
3. Removal of the President: If the impeachment of the President is initiated by one house but the other house fails to pass the resolution, a joint session can be called to decide on the removal.
4. Special Address by the President: The President may address both houses of Parliament together during the first session after each general election and the first session of each year.
Occasions when joint session of the two houses of the Parliament cannot be held:
1. Money Bills: The Constitution explicitly states that a joint session cannot be held for the passage of a Money Bill. A Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) and the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) can only recommend amendments, which the Lok Sabha may or may not accept.
2. Constitutional Amendments: If a constitutional amendment is passed by one house and rejected by the other house, a joint session cannot be called if the amendment falls under the purview of certain specified provisions. These provisions include the federal structure, territorial integrity, representation of states in Parliament, and the powers and functions of the President.
3. Interval between Joint Sessions: The Constitution specifies that there should be an interval of at least six months between two consecutive joint sessions. This ensures that the President does not misuse the power to call for a joint session frequently.
In conclusion, the Indian Constitution allows for the holding of a joint session of the two houses of Parliament in specific situations such as the passage of a Bill, constitutional amendments, and the removal of the President. However, there are certain limitations to this provision, such as the exclusion of Money Bills, restrictions on constitutional amendments, and the requirement of a minimum interval between joint sessions. These provisions ensure that the joint session is used judiciously and in accordance with the principles of democracy and federalism.
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