Why the Special Session of Indian Parliament Matters: A Historical and Political Analysis

    An extraordinary session of Parliament is taking place in India right now, which is an uncommon and significant occurrence in its parliamentary system. The administration has declared that it would call both Houses of Parliament into a special session from September 18 to September 22, 2023, to examine and deliberate on several matters of national significance. Only nine times in India's history since independence has a special session of Parliament been convened, and that was 12 years ago. What are the goals and schedule for this particular meeting? What are the ramifications and difficulties for the opposition parties and the government? In terms of the political and historical environment, how does this special session differ from the prior ones? I'll try to address these concerns in this blog post and offer a thorough evaluation of the relevance of the extraordinary session of the Indian Parliament.

What is a special session of Parliament, and how does it work?

    A special session of Parliament is called for a particular reason or event and often has specific restrictions on the agenda and legislative processes. A special session is a word occasionally used by the government and the media to describe particular sessions that are called for specific reasons. However, it is neither defined nor mentioned in the Indian Constitution.

    The administration has reportedly announced a special session of Parliament to be held from September 18 to September 22, 2023, to examine and deliberate on several matters of national importance. This session's precise schedule and business items have not been made public. According to specific sources, some extraordinary sessions may be conducted at the newly inaugurated Parliament building.

    Unless otherwise indicated by the presiding officers or the government, the extraordinary session of Parliament shall operate by the same rules and procedures as any other regular session. Both Houses of Parliament will convene separately during the extraordinary session and jointly if necessary. To address issues of general interest, the special session will include feature Question Hour, Zero Hour, and other parliamentary procedures. Additionally, there will be legislative action during the extraordinary session, including the introduction, deliberation, and passage of bills, as well as motions, resolutions, and amendments.

    The length, schedule, and frequency of the meetings and the breadth and form of the discussions and debates may all be altered or restricted during a special session, in contrast to a regular one. For instance, A special session could include shorter than usual or longer or more frequent sittings. A limited or preset agenda and a particular subject or focus may be present during a special session. A special session may also have fewer opportunities to bring up issues unrelated to the topic or greater latitude for accommodating opposing points of view.

    The background and circumstances surrounding the calling of a special session of Parliament will determine its purpose and significance. A special session may be convened to address a pressing or essential situation the country is now facing, such as a war, a natural disaster, or a constitutional crisis. An anniversary, a centennial, or a bicentennial are examples of significant occasions that can warrant the calling of a special session of Parliament. A special session may also be convened to celebrate a specific government or Parliament accomplishment, such as a new legislation, policy, or structure.

    In India's parliamentary democracy, extraordinary sessions of Parliament don't happen often or often. There have only been eight exceptional sessions since independence. The first occurred in 1976 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the first Parliamentary session. The most recent one was held in 2011 to celebrate 60 years since the opening of Parliament. The other six special sessions were held in 1982 to commemorate the birth centenary of Mahatma Gandhi, in 1988 to mark the birth centenary of Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1992 to mark the birth centenary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, 1997 to mark the 50th anniversary of India's independence, 2002 to mark the country's golden jubilee as a republic, and 2006 to commemorate Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's death anniversary.

What are the possible reasons for calling a special session in 2023?

    It is still being determined why the administration could summon a special session of Parliament in 2023, given that neither the agenda nor the items of business have been made public by the government. However, there are certain rumors and conjectures in the political and media circles regarding the purposes and goals of this session. Among the potential causes are:

·         To start the process for One Nation, One Election, a plan to conduct the Lok Sabha and state legislatures elections simultaneously. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other leaders have backed this idea as a method to lessen the expense and disruption of periodic elections and guarantee policy continuity and stability1. The opposition parties, constitutional experts, and civil society organizations, on the other hand, claim that this plan will weaken federalism, diversity, and accountability.

·         The Women's Reservation Bill is legislation reserving 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures for women. Since the H.D. Deve Gowda administration filed this measure in 1996, it has been waiting in Parliament. Despite being approved by the Rajya Sabha in 2010, all parties did not support it, and failed to pass the Lok Sabha. The opposition parties, including Congress and Trinamool Congress, have backed the Modi administration's pledge to adopt this legislation during its second term1.

·         to create the Uniform Civil Code, a system of rules that applies to all people, regardless of faith, and governs personal issues like marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, etc. The BJP and its ideological allies have long demanded this code, arguing that it would secure gender fairness and national unification. However, several religious minorities and groups vehemently oppose this code because they believe it would violate their fundamental rights and respect for cultural diversity1.

·         to emphasize or display the new Parliament building, which President Ram Nath Kovind dedicated in May 2023. The brand-new structure is a component of the Central Vista redevelopment initiative, which intends to turn the renowned Rajpath neighborhood into a cutting-edge administrative complex. The new system has a triangle design, more room for sitting, and several advanced amenities. The P20 summit, a gathering of the legislative leaders of the G20 nations, is anticipated to take place there in October 20232.

·         to deal with a few pressing or essential challenges the country faces, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, the slowing economy, farmer protests, border tensions with China and Pakistan, the Afghan situation, etc. These matters call for parliamentary scrutiny, discussion, legislative action, and policy intervention. The administration could provide a report on these matters during the extraordinary session and ask the opposition parties for their assistance and support.

What are the challenges and opportunities for the government and the opposition in the special session?

• The special session gives the administration a chance to highlight its objectives and accomplishments, particularly in light of the COVID-19 epidemic, the economic recovery, the farmer demonstrations, the border issues, and the Afghan situation. The session might be used by the administration to provide an assessment of these challenges and to solicit assistance and collaboration from the opposition parties. The government may also use the session to present important laws or policies that have been delayed or divisive, like the One Nation, One Election plan, the Women's Reservation Bill, or the Uniform Civil Code2. The federal government may also utilize the meeting to promote the Central Vista project's new Parliament building, which will house the P20 summit in October.
• The administration will face difficulties due to the extraordinary session since it may come under public and opposition party scrutiny on several subjects. The opposition parties may question the purpose and timing of the special session and the viability and acceptability of some of the measures the administration could implement. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation on claims against Adani Group may also be demanded by the opposition parties3. The opposition parties could also bring up topics like inflation, unemployment, corruption, communalism, etc., not on the special session's agenda. On some of the plans, the administration may encounter some opposition or disagreement from its allies or some members of its party.
• The extraordinary session allows the opposition parties to confront and interrogate the administration on several problems and provide a different vision and agenda for the country. The opposition parties may use the meeting to highlight the government's faults in foreign policy, agriculture, security, and the economy. The opposition parties may also make their worries and objections to some of the government's potential initiatives known as One Nation, One Election, Women's Reservation Bill, or Uniform Civil Code known during the session. The opposition parties can also utilize the meeting to call for a JPC investigation into accusations against Adani Group 3.
• The opposition parties may encounter some difficulties during the special session, though, since they may come under pressure from their followers and supporters to perform well. The opposition parties may need to balance criticism and collaboration on several subjects. On some of the suggestions the administration could put out, the opposition parties may also need to deal with their internal issues and disagreements. The opposition parties may also have to deal with their sparse legislative representation and resources.

How does the special session compare to previous ones in India’s history?

1. The ninth extraordinary session of Parliament has been conducted in India since independence, and it will take place from September 18 to September 22, 2023. The past special sessions were organized by online articles12 for a variety of causes and events, including:
2. The 50th year of independence, the golden jubilee of the republic, the 25th, 50th, and 60th anniversaries of the first meeting of Parliament, the centennial of Mahatma Gandhi's birth, the centenaries of Jawaharlal Nehru and Babasaheb Ambedkar, and many other historical events.
3. We are Discussing severe or essential matters, such as the 1962 India-China conflict crisis or Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's 125th birthday homage in 2015.

The extraordinary sessions were either convened as midnight sessions without debates or deliberations on the agenda issues. Several remarkable speeches and activities, including the following, occurred during the special sessions:

• Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's speech at midnight on August 14, 1947, proclaiming India's meeting with destiny.
• At midnight on August 15, 1972, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi announced India's victory over Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's speech defining India's vision for the twenty-first century was delivered at midnight on August 15, 1997.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech to officially introduce the GST regime on June 30, 2017, at midnight.

There will be differences between the 2023 special session of Parliament and earlier ones, including the following:

1. Since most prior special sessions were scheduled in August or November, this one will be the first in September.
2. Since most other special sessions were conducted for one or two days, this one will be the first to last five days.
3. It will be the first extraordinary session in part of the newly opened in May 2023, Parliament building.
4. It will be the first time a special session has been conducted without a stated objective or goal.

Additionally, the 2023 special session of Parliament will resemble some of the earlier ones in the following ways:

1. It will be a session for a particular event or goal, with some restrictions on the topic and parliamentary processes.
2. Significant laws or policies may have been up for debate or long-pending during this session.
3. During this session, there may be some contentious discussions and exchanges between the government and the opposition parties.

    The ninth extraordinary session of the Indian Parliament will take place in 2023, and it will be the first to take place in part at the new Parliament building. Among potential agenda items are One Nation, One Election, the Women's Reservation Bill, the Uniform Civil Code, or dealing with specific critical concerns. Still, this session's exact aim has yet to be discovered. Depending on how the session turns out and its effect, the administration, and the opposition parties will face problems and possibilities. The meeting will be important historically and politically for the democracy and development of India.