What is duration of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?
Q. Which of the following is/are true?
1) Rajya Sabha was first constituted in 1952.
2) Constitution has fixed the term of office of members of the Rajya Sabha as 6 years.- Published on 02 Mar 17a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: Only 1
Duration of Rajya Sabha -
- The Rajya Sabha (first constituted in 1952) is a continuing chamber, that is, it is a permanent body and not subject to dissolution.
- However, one-third of its members retire every second year.
- Their seats are filled up by fresh elections and presidential nominations at the beginning of every third year.
- The retiring members are eligible for re-election and re-nomination any number of times.
- The Constitution has not fixed the term of office of members of the Rajya Sabha and left it to the Parliament.
- Accordingly, the Parliament in the Representation of the People Act (1951) provided that the term of office of a member of the Rajya Sabha shall be six years.
- The act also empowered the president of India to curtail the term of members chosen in the first Rajya Sabha.
- In the first batch, it was decided by lottery as to who should retire.
- Further, the act also authorized the President to make provisions to govern the order of retirement of the members of the Rajya Sabha.
Duration of Lok Sabha -
- Unlike the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha is not a continuing chamber.
- Its normal term is five years from the date of its first meeting after the general elections, after which it automatically dissolves.
- However, the President is authorized to dissolve the Lok Sabha at any time even before the completion of five years and this cannot be challenged in a court of law.
- Further, the term of the Lok Sabha can be extended during the period of national emergency be a law of Parliament for one year at a time for any length of time.
- However, this extension cannot continue beyond a period of six months after the emergency has ceased to operate.
