Sessions Of Parliament

**Statement 1 is Incorrect:** A bill pending in the Lok Sabha does not lapse on prorogation. Prorogation refers to the formal end of a parliamentary session, but it does not affect the pending business of the House. When the Lok Sabha reconvenes in the next session, all pending bills remain active and can be resumed from where they were left. **Statement 2 is Correct:** A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, does not lapse upon the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. This is because the Rajya Sabha is a permanent body that is not subject to dissolution. The new Lok Sabha can take up such bills from where they were left. **Key Difference:** - Prorogation is a temporary suspension of parliamentary business; pending bills remain unaffected. - Dissolution permanently ends the term of the Lok Sabha, causing pending bills in the Lok Sabha to lapse. However, bills in the Rajya Sabha do not lapse due to its continuous nature.

Article 85(1) of the Constitution empowers the President to summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one Session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next Session. So, the Constitution provides for the maximum gap between two sessions of Parliament, i.e. it cannot be more than six months. In other words, the Parliament should meet at least twice a year. Therefore the constitution prescribes a maximum gap but there is no minimum gap. So, statement 1 and 3 are correct, and 2 is not correct. Therefore the correct answer is (c).

* **Statement 1: Correct.** When the Lok Sabha is dissolved, any bill pending in the Lok Sabha automatically lapses. This is because the dissolution of the Lok Sabha ends its session, and all legislative business in progress becomes void. * **Statement 2: Correct.** If a bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha but is pending in the Rajya Sabha, it lapses upon the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. This is true even if the Rajya Sabha has not yet acted on the bill. * **Statement 3: Incorrect.** A bill regarding which the President has notified a joint sitting will not lapse on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. It can be taken up in the next session after the Lok Sabha is reconstituted. A joint sitting is called only when there is a deadlock between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

**Statement 1 is incorrect.** Under Article 85(2) of the Constitution, the President has the authority to prorogue the Houses, or either House of Parliament, from time to time. The termination of a session of the House by an order from the President under this provision is referred to as 'prorogation.' The President exercises this power of prorogation only upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister or the Cabinet, i.e., the Council of Ministers. **Statement 2 is correct.** Typically, prorogation follows adjournment sine die, but technically, the President can prorogue a House even while it is in session. **Statement 3 is correct.** The President usually dissolves the Lok Sabha based on the advice of the Council of Ministers, except in exceptional circumstances such as a vote of no confidence or other political crises.