Duration of Houses of Parliament
Article 83 — Duration of Houses of Parliament
shall not be subject to dissolution, but as nearly as possible one-third of the members thereof shall retire as soon as may be on the expiration of every second year in accordance with the provisions made in that behalf by Parliament by law. (2) The House of the People, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years] from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer and the expiration of the said period of five years shall operate as a dissolution of the House: Provided that the said period may, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, be extended by Parliament by law for a period not exceeding one year at a time and not extending in any case beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate.
Plain English Summary
This article deals with how long the Parliament (the Houses of Parliament) lasts. It states that the Parliament cannot be dissolved, but a portion of its members must retire every two years. The House of the People has a fixed term of five years, which acts as a dissolution unless extended by Parliament during an emergency.
Key Points
- The Parliament itself cannot be dissolved.
- One-third of the members of Parliament must retire every two years.
- The House of the People lasts for five years from its first meeting.
- This five-year term can be extended by Parliament during an emergency, but only for a maximum of one year at a time.
Why It Matters
This article ensures that the legislative body remains in place for a set duration while maintaining a mechanism to refresh its membership through retirements.
Landmark Judgements
No major landmark judgements.