Q. When a bill is referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses of the Parliament, it has to be passed by

  • a simple majority of members present and voting
  • three-fourths majority of members present and voting
  • two-thirds majority of the Houses
  • absolute majority of the Houses

Answer: (a) a simple majority of members present and voting

Joint Sitting Of Two Houses:
  • Joint sitting is extraordinary machinery provided by the Constitution to resolve a deadlock between the two Houses over the passage of a bill.
  • Article 108 of the Indian Constitution of India provides for Joint sitting of both the Houses. The joint sitting of the Parliament is called by the President and is presided over by the Speaker or, in his absence, by the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha or in his absence, the Deputy-Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
    • The Chairman doesn’t preside over the joint session at any means/cost.
  • Conditions of Deadlock: A deadlock is deemed to have taken place under any one of the following three situations:
    • If the bill is rejected by the other House.
    • If the Houses have finally disagreed as to the amendments to be made in the bill.
    • If more than six months have elapsed from the date of the receipt of the bill by the other House without the bill being passed by it.
  • Applicability: The provision of joint sitting is applicable to ordinary bills or financial bills only and not to money bills or Constitutional amendment bills.
    • In the case of a money bill, the Lok Sabha has overriding powers, while a Constitutional amendment bill must be passed by each House separately.
  • Summons to members: The Secretary-General shall issue summons to each member specifying the time and place for a joint sitting.
  • Time of sitting: The duration and adjournment of the joint sitting shall be determined by the Speaker.
  • Quorum: The quorum to constitute a joint sitting is one-tenth of the total number of members of the two Houses.
  • Procedure: The procedures of joint sessions are subject to modifications and variations as the Speaker may consider necessary or appropriate.
  • Majority: At the joint sitting of parliament, a bill has to be passed by the simple majority of the total number of members of both Houses present and voting.
  • Instances of Joint Sittings: Since 1950, the provision regarding the joint sitting of the two Houses has been invoked only thrice. The bills that have been passed at joint sittings are:
    • Dowry Prohibition Bill, 1960.
    • Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill, 1977.
    • Prevention of Terrorism Bill, 2002.