Parliament Session Still Not Prorogued, Fueling Delimitation Bill Buzz

New Delhi, Aug 23: Ten days after both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die, the Monsoon Session has not yet been formally prorogued, triggering speculation that the government may seek to pass key legislation without convening a fresh session.

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die on August 13, but the formal notification for prorogation had not been issued as of Sunday. Normally, Parliament sessions are prorogued within a few days of being adjourned.

Under the Constitution, the President prorogues Parliament on the recommendation of the government.

The delay has renewed speculation that the government could bring a Constitutional amendment linked to the implementation of the women’s reservation law and delimitation. An earlier attempt during the Budget Session could not move forward amid concerns among Opposition parties, particularly those from southern states, that population-based delimitation could reduce their representation in the Lok Sabha.

The government is understood to have considered a formula under which the number of Lok Sabha seats would be increased uniformly by 50 per cent across states and Union territories to address concerns over the impact of delimitation.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh questioned the delay in proroguing the session and asked whether the government was still seeking the numbers required to pass a delimitation-linked Constitutional amendment.

Ramesh said the gap between sine die adjournment and prorogation is generally two to four days, though there have been instances when both occurred on the same day.

The issue has also resurfaced in southern states. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, speaking at the Southern Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 21, sought an assurance that no state would lose its share of parliamentary representation because of successful population stabilisation.

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar separately demanded that the existing strength of 543 Lok Sabha seats be retained for the next 25 years. (Agencies)