Previous Year Question

The correct answer is the President. Article 108 of the Constitution provides for a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in certain circumstances, and such a sitting is summoned by the President.

A joint sitting is primarily a constitutional mechanism for resolving a deadlock between the two Houses over an ordinary Bill. Such a situation may arise when one House rejects a Bill passed by the other, the Houses finally disagree over amendments, or the other House does not pass the Bill for more than six months after receiving it.

The most important examination distinction is that the President summons the joint sitting, but the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over it. Under Article 118(4), the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides at a joint sitting of the two Houses. Thus, option (b) is incorrect in this question because the Speaker does not summon the sitting; the Speaker presides over it.

There is no joint sitting for a Money Bill because the Rajya Sabha has a limited role in relation to Money Bills. Similarly, there is no provision for a joint sitting in case of a deadlock over a Constitution Amendment Bill; such a Bill must separately secure the required special majority in both Houses.

So far, joint sittings to resolve legislative deadlocks have been held on three occasions—for the Dowry Prohibition Bill, 1959; Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill, 1977; and Prevention of Terrorism Bill, 2002. This is a useful example of the actual operation of Article 108.

Thus, remember the direct distinction—Summon → President; Preside → Speaker of Lok Sabha.