New Delhi, Aug 23: Ten days after both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die, the Monsoon Session is yet to be formally prorogued, triggering speculation that the Government may be keeping the session technically open to facilitate the passage of key legislation without convening a fresh session.
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die on August 13. Normally, Parliament sessions are prorogued within a few days, but no notification for prorogation of the Monsoon Session had been issued as of Sunday morning.
The Budget Session, for instance, concluded on April 18 and was prorogued on April 20.
Under the Constitution, the President formally prorogues Parliament on the advice of the Government.
The delay has fuelled speculation that the Government may seek to advance legislation linked to the implementation of the Women's Reservation law before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
An earlier attempt during the Budget Session could not move forward amid concerns over the numbers required for passage. Opposition parties, particularly from southern states, have expressed apprehension that a population-based delimitation exercise could reduce their representation in the Lok Sabha.
To address these concerns, the Government is reportedly examining a proposal to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats across states and Union Territories by a uniform 50 per cent.
There had also been speculation that the Government could seek passage of a Constitutional amendment bill on the issue after Independence Day.
The Congress on Sunday questioned the delay in proroguing the session and asked whether the Government was still working to secure the required two-thirds majority for a delimitation-linked Constitutional amendment bill.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the gap between adjournment sine die and prorogation is generally two to four days, although there have also been instances when both occurred on the same day.
“Ten days have gone by since this Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die but still there is no information on its prorogation,” Ramesh said.
He acknowledged that longer gaps had occurred in 2015 and 2021, but said there were no similar contentious moves underway at the time.
Meanwhile, speculation surrounding the Government's plans on delimitation and the Women's Reservation law has intensified following comments by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at the Southern Zonal Council meeting in Mahabalipuram on August 21.
Vijay urged the Centre to provide a clear legislative assurance that no state would lose its share of parliamentary representation because of successful population stabilisation efforts.
His remarks marked a shift from the categorical opposition to delimitation reflected in a resolution moved by him in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 12.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who also attended the meeting, called for retaining the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats for the next 25 years.
