Parliament Sessions in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha End Early

The Indian parliament building in New Delhi. (Photo: Reuters)

The Budget Session of Parliament, which began as a new session on 25 April, is likely to end early with Lok Sabha being adjourned sine die, late in the evening on Wednesday and Rajya Sabha on 12 May.

Sources said it is being done in view of the last leg of campaigning for assembly elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, besides the fact that there is no official business left for the current session. As per the original schedule, the current session would have ended on 13 May.

“It’s a consensus decision,” said a government source, indicating that the Opposition parties were also fully on board for an early conclusion of the session. Sources said earlier the plan was to adjourn the two Houses sine die a few days ago, but it could not be done as the Finance Bill had not been passed.

After the passage of the Finance Bill on Wednesday, there was not much business left, according to government sources.

Rajya Sabha would also have been adjourned sine die on Wednesday, but since 58 members of the House have retired, they will be making a customary farewell speech on 12 May, Thursday, sources added.

The Budget Session of Parliament had begun on 23 February and concluded on 16 March. There was the scheduled recess between the first and second part. However, the session was prorogued to allow promulgation of an ordinance to bring and pass a vote on account for Uttarakhand, which was under President’s rule. An ordinance cannot be promulgated when Parliament is in session. Therefore, the house was prorogued and the second part of the Budget Session began as a new session on 25 April.