Context:

The first Parliament session of 2021 began with President Ram Nath Kovind addressing members of both Houses of Parliament.

President’s Address

• Article 86 of the Constitution gives the President the power to address either House or a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament.
• The Constitution states that the President shall “inform Parliament of the cause of the summons”.
• Article 87of the Constitution of India provides two special occasions on which the President addresses a joint sitting:
  • To address the opening session of a new house after a general election.
  • To address the first sitting of Parliament each year.
• A session of a new or continuing legislature cannot begin without fulfilling this requirement.

Joint Sitting of Parliament during deadlock over bills

• Such joint sitting of the Parliament is called by the President under Article 108.
• As per Article 108 of the Constitution, a Joint session of Parliament can be summoned in the following situations. If after a Bill has been passed by one House and submitted to the other House—
  • The Bill is rejected by the other House
  • The Houses have finally disagreed as to the amendments to be made in the Bill
  • More than six months elapse from the date of the reception of the Bill by the other House without the Bill being passed by it
• If the above conditions are satisfied, the President may summon the joint sitting of both the houses of parliament.

Exceptions to such joint sitting

• These two bills cannot be referred to as a joint sitting:
• Money Bill
• Constitution Amendment Bill.

Presides the joint sitting

• It is presided over by the Speaker or, in their absence, by the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha or in their absence, the Deputy-Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
• The Chairperson of Rajya Sabha doesn’t preside over the joint session.