COVID-19: Upcoming Parliament Session to witness several firsts

According to sources, the upcoming Monsoon session of the Parliament will witness several firsts in view of COVID-19, with both houses not functioning simultaneously, and big screens being put up in the chambers.

New Delhi: The upcoming Monsoon Session of the Indian Parliament is set to witness several firsts, with both houses not functioning simultaneously in view of COVID-19.

Besides staggering sittings, several first-time measures such as the use of both chambers and galleries to accommodate members while following physical distancing norms have been taken. According to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, members of the Upper House will be seated in both chambers and galleries during the session.

This is the first time in the history of the Indian Parliament that 60 members will be seated in the chamber, 51 in the galleries of Rajya Sabha, and the remaining 132 in the Lok Sabha chamber.

While both the Houses usually function simultaneously, this time, one House will sit during the morning hours and the other in the evening, sources said.

The Budget Session had to be curtailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and both Houses were adjourned sine die on 23 March. As per precedent, Parliament has to be convened before the end of six months from the last session.

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According to sources, visitors will be prohibited for the entire session. Only limited journalists, who have a permanent pass, will be allowed on a rotation basis.

Sources said that chances are high that there will be no zero hour or question hour due to time constraints with both houses functioning in tandem. This might be a drawback for Opposition MPs who have been preparing to raise issues, as the government would want to first finish off with what it feels are pending issues.

For the first time, large display screens and consoles for participation from galleries, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, special cables between the two Houses and polycarbonate separators will be put in place.

While four big screens will be installed in the Rajya Sabha chamber, one big and four small screens will be put up in the gallery.

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