RAS question
A joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament can be summoned under which Article?
Correct answer: (A) Article 108.
Article 108 of the Constitution of India provides for the President to summon both Houses of Parliament to a joint sitting when a non-Money Bill is deadlocked between them.
Explanation
Article 108 is the specific provision for a joint sitting of both Houses in certain legislative deadlocks. It applies after a Bill has been passed by one House and sent to the other, if the other House rejects it, both Houses finally disagree on amendments, or more than six months pass without the other House passing it. The President first notifies the Houses of the intention to summon them and may then summon the joint sitting for deliberation and voting. The provision expressly excludes Money Bills. Constitutional Amendment Bills are also outside the joint-sitting route. Article 118 matters only for procedure at such sittings, including who presides.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Article 118 concerns each House's rules of procedure and rules for joint sittings; it does not create the power to summon a joint sitting in a legislative deadlock.
- (C) Article 100 deals with voting, vacancies and quorum in the Houses and joint sittings, so it governs how decisions are taken, not when a joint sitting is summoned.
- (D) Article 85 empowers the President to summon each House for ordinary parliamentary sessions and to prorogue or dissolve the House of the People, not to call a deadlock-resolving joint sitting.
Concept
Union Parliament legislative procedure includes the deadlock-resolution mechanism between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Article 108 recurs in RAS because it is easily confused with nearby provisions on sessions, voting, quorum and rules of procedure.