Previous Year Question

The power to adjourn a sitting of the Lok Sabha rests with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. According to the official parliamentary terminology of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the Speaker determines whether a sitting of the House is to be adjourned to a particular day or time or adjourned sine die.

Adjournment means postponing a sitting of the House for a specified period, until another day, or indefinitely. Adjournment does not terminate the existence of the Lok Sabha, and normally pending business does not lapse merely because of adjournment.

Important distinction: The wording of the question uses “adjourn the Lok Sabha session,” but constitutionally Adjournment and Prorogation are different. A sitting is adjourned by the Speaker, whereas an entire session is prorogued by the President under Article 85(2)(a). Therefore, when “adjourn” is intended in the question, the correct answer is the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Remember:
Adjournment of sitting = Speaker of Lok Sabha
Prorogation of session = President
Dissolution of Lok Sabha = President