Special Session of Parliament to Commemorate 75-Year Journey

The Central government has announced a special discussion to mark the 75-year journey of the Indian Parliament, starting from the inaugural session of the Samvidhan Sabha on December 9, 1946. This special session of Parliament is set to commence on September 18, with a discussion titled “Parliamentary Journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha – Achievements, Experiences, Memories, and Learnings,” according to the Parliamentary Bulletin released on Wednesday.

The upcoming Special Session of Parliament will run for five sittings, from September 18 to 22.

In addition to commemorating this significant milestone, the government has included four important bills on the legislative agenda for the session. Among these bills is the “Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill,” which was originally introduced in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session on August 10.

The list of bills also comprises ‘The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023,’ and ‘The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023,’ both of which were previously passed by the Rajya Sabha on August 3, 2023. The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to amend the Advocates Act, of 1961, while the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 aims to repeal the antiquated Press and Registration of Books Act, of 1867.

Additionally, ‘The Post Office Bill, 2023’ has been included in the Lok Sabha’s legislative agenda. This bill was originally introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August 10, 2023, and proposes the repeal of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898.

Notably, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Bill on the appointment of Chief Election Commissioners and other election commissioners in the last session. This legislation also addresses the procedural aspects of the Election Commission’s business. It suggests that Election Commissioners should be appointed by the President based on the recommendation of a panel led by the Prime Minister, with participation from the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister, with the Prime Minister serving as the panel’s chair.

It’s worth mentioning that if this bill becomes law, it will supersede the Supreme Court’s March 2023 judgment, which ruled that the appointment of Election Commissioners should be done by the President upon the advice of a panel consisting of the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India. However, the Supreme Court’s decision noted that its outlined procedure would stand until Parliament enacts a relevant law.

The upcoming Special Session of Parliament promises to be a momentous occasion, marking both the legislative journey of the Indian Parliament and the consideration of vital bills crucial to the nation’s governance.