Previous Year Question

Article 108 of the Constitution provides for a Joint Sitting of the two Houses of Parliament. Where a Bill has been passed by one House and transmitted to the other House and a deadlock arises, the President may initiate the process of summoning both Houses for a joint sitting.

Under Article 108, a deadlock may arise principally when the other House rejects the Bill, the Houses finally disagree on amendments, or the Bill remains unpassed by the other House for more than six months after its receipt. In such circumstances, a joint sitting may be held for an ordinary Bill.

There is no Joint Sitting for a Money Bill. Article 108 expressly excludes Money Bills from this procedure. In the case of a Money Bill, the Rajya Sabha has only a limited recommendatory role.

There is also no Joint Sitting for a Constitutional Amendment Bill. Under Article 368, a Constitutional Amendment Bill must be passed separately by each House with the prescribed Special Majority. A disagreement of one House cannot be overcome through a Joint Sitting.

An Appropriation Bill is a Money Bill because it provides for appropriation of money from the Consolidated Fund of India. Therefore, a Joint Sitting cannot be held for an Appropriation Bill either.

Thus, the key association is—Article 108 → Joint Sitting → Ordinary Bill; no Joint Sitting for Money Bills or Constitutional Amendment Bills.