New Delhi: The decision of not proroguing the Winter session of Parliament and instead re-convening it was on Saturday criticised by senior RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh who said it is unconstitutional and should be avoided.
Singh, whose party supports the government from outside, has written a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker, expressing his dismay.
He cited Article 87(1) of the Constitution, according to which the first session of Lok Sabha after elections will start with the President`s Address and thereafter the first session of every year will also start with the President`s Address.
"This was the reason why the President`s Address took place twice in a year in 2004 and 2009, when Lok Sabha elections were held," he said.
The Winter session ended on December 19 last year and it has been re-convened from February 5 to 21.
Singh, a former Union Minister, said an unprecedented situation has been created as a session which ended in the last year was not prorogued and instead re-convened in the new year to consider Vote-on-Account and other crucial legislations.
The RJD leader told PTI that he has also written to the Lok Sabha Speaker to urge her to "protect the Constitution and rules" and avoid the precedent.
"This is unconstitutional and goes contrary to all rules and traditions. Let the government cite any example from past where the session has begun in one year and was then extended in another year.
"This will set a wrong precedent and it seems there is nobody in the government to talk about these rules. Senior leaders from other Opposition parties should also have intervened," the RJD leader said.
Singh said that the winter session should be prorogued and the government should call for a fresh session that begins with the the President`s Address.
The Parliament is meeting for the last time in this period
to pass a `Vote-on-Account` budget ahead of the Lok Sabha elections expected to be held in April-May.
The coming session will be a continuation of the winter session as both Houses were not prorogued.
During the session, Government also plans to ensure passage of some anti-corruption legislations which have been identified by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi as the broader "framework" to fight graft.
Whistleblowers` Protection Bill, Judicial Accountability Bill, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, Citizens Charter Bill, The Electronic Delivery of Services Bill, The Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Public Procurement Bill are pending in Parliament.
Gandhi had wanted extension of the winter session for passage of these Bills.
A total of 126 bills - 62 in Lok Sabha and 64 in Rajya Sabha - are pending at various stages.
With elections looming large, government goes for a vote-on-account budget without any policy measures being disclosed or taxes levied, a job it leaves to the new government to undertake.
