Which of the following expression is appropriate regarding the message to call joint sitting of both houses under Article 108 of the Constitution of India?
- (a)Intention of President
- (b)Direction of President
- (c)Wisdom of President
- (d)Consent of President
Correct — A, Intention of President. Article 108(1) provides that the President may, in the circumstances stated, notify to the Houses his 'intention' to summon them to meet in a joint sitting to resolve a deadlock over a Bill. The Constitution uses the word 'intention'.
- (b)Direction of President — Article 108 speaks of the President's 'intention' to summon a joint sitting, not a 'direction'.
- (c)Wisdom of President — 'Wisdom' does not appear in the text of Article 108.
- (d)Consent of President — The provision refers to notifying the President's 'intention', not his 'consent'.
Article 108 lets the President call a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to break a deadlock over an ordinary Bill (not Money Bills or Constitution Amendment Bills). The mechanism begins with the President notifying his 'intention' to summon it.
The question tests the exact constitutional wording. Fix the term: Article 108 -> President notifies his 'intention'.
- Article 108 provides for a joint sitting to resolve a deadlock between the two Houses.
- The President notifies his 'intention' to summon the joint sitting.
- It applies to ordinary Bills, not Money or Constitution-Amendment Bills.
- The joint sitting is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
- Choosing 'direction/consent' instead of the exact word 'intention'
- Assuming joint sittings apply to Money or Amendment Bills
Exact-wording questions on Article 108 — remember 'intention'.
Consider the following statements: 1. The joint sitting of the two Houses of the Parliament in India is sanctioned under Article 108 of the Constitution. 2. The first joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha was held in the year 1961. 3. The second joint sitting of the two Houses was held to pass the Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill. Which of the statements are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 2 and 3
- (c) 1 and 3
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer(d) 1, 2 and 3
UPSC 2003 on Article 108 joint sittings — confirms the joint-sitting provision and its historical uses.
- practice — not a real PYQ
A joint sitting of the two Houses under Article 108 is presided over by:
- (a)The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
- (b)The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
- (c)The President
- (d)The senior-most member
Answer(a) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
- practice — not a real PYQ
For which type of Bill can a joint sitting NOT be summoned?
- (a)Money Bill
- (b)Ordinary Bill
- (c)Government Bill
- (d)Private Member's Bill
Answer(a) Money Bill (and Constitution Amendment Bills).