Monsoon Session of Parliament from September 14 to October 1 with safety measures

The monsoon session of Parliament is likely to be held for two weeks between September 14 and October 1. As per the norm, there can’t be more than six months’ gap between two sessions of Parliament.

With the Budget session being adjourned sine die on March 23, the two Houses need to meet before September 22. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs will deliberate on the matter soon.

Sources said a short monsoon session with only four hours sittings each of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have been planned. A total of 18 sittings of the two Houses are likely.

The secretariats of the two Houses have made elaborate arrangements to ensure compliance with coronavirus norms.

There would be two Saturdays and Sundays between 14 September and 1 October.

As per the official, the Lok Sabha would function from 9:00am to 1:00pm while Rajya Sabha proceedings would take place between 3:00pm and 7:00pm.

Parliamentarians will not be allowed to return to their constituencies during the session unlike the previous years’ trend when most of them used to leave the national capital on Friday and return on Monday.

The purpose is to avoid the spread of Covid-19 which has infected over 31 lakh people across the country so far and killed 58,390.

There are also proposals to install an ultraviolet irradiation system in the air-conditioning unit of the Rajya Sabha to kill germs and viruses.

Overall, the Monsoon Session is likely to be marked by several firsts and special measures, government sources said.

Four large (85 inches) display screens will be set up in the chambers and six smaller (40 inches) screens and audio consoles in the four galleries, as well as cables to transmit real-time audio-visual signals and communications consoles to enable members to participate in debates and discussions.

The government is learnt to have planned to clear 11 ordinances on priority amid the Opposition’s attempt to keep it on the back-foot over the Galwan Valley incident in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

Most of these 11 ordinances will lapse if not passed in the upcoming session of Parliament as the Winter Session will be held only in December.