Parliamentary Suspensions Raise Unprecedented Interpretation Concerns
New Delhi, December 29, 2023 – In an unprecedented turn of events, the suspension of Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) has not been revoked after both Houses of Parliament adjourned sine die last Thursday, raising concerns about the interpretation of the phrase “remainder of the Session.”
The notification to prorogue both Houses is anticipated within the next day or two, according to parliamentary sources. Out of the 146 MPs suspended from both Houses, 132 were suspended until “the remainder of the Session.” Notably, this marks the first time in Indian parliamentary history that the phrase “remainder of the Session” has been interpreted as the day the parliamentary session gets prorogued by the order of the President of India, rather than as the last sitting.
Informed sources revealed that this unexpected interpretation surfaced just two days before the tour of the Estimates Committee, scheduled to visit Tirupati and Bangalore on December 26. The secretariats of both Houses sent an email to the seven suspended Opposition MPs who were part of the committee, instructing them not to join the tour as their suspension continues.
“We were surprised to know because this has never happened before. The suspension, if clearly announced till the end of the session, is usually revoked on the last day. It is equally surprising that the session has not been prorogued till now, which typically occurs within a day or two of the last sitting,” commented an Opposition MP.
The suspension of MPs until the end of the Winter Session raises questions about the delayed prorogation of the Houses and the unprecedented interpretation of the suspension duration. The Privileges Committees of both Houses are yet to submit their reports on the 14 MPs whose suspension extends beyond the Winter Session.
As anticipation builds for the notification to prorogue the two Houses, the parliamentary landscape remains in an unusual state of suspense, with MPs awaiting clarity on the duration and implications of their suspensions.
