New Delhi: The Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the Cabinet has recommended the upcoming monsoon session from September 14. According to sources, a total of 18 meetings are proposed during this session lasting till October 1. Detailed information about it will be released soon.
According to officials, new arrangements are being made to follow the proper distance. Hence, both house halls and galleries are likely to be used to seat members.
Hectic preparations are underway for the Monsoon Session of Parliament with several first-time measures because of the COVID-19 pandemic such as staggered sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and use of both chambers and galleries to accommodate members while following physical distancing norms, officials had said.
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 Indian Parliament since 1952 that such an arrangement will be in place, where 60 members will be seated in the chamber and 51 in the galleries of Rajya Sabha and the remaining 132 in the chamber of Lok Sabha.
Similar seating arrangements are being worked out by the Lok Sabha Secretariat as well.
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 in place.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at a meeting on July 17, after detailed examination of various options for holding the session, decided on using the chambers and galleries of both the Houses.
