New Delhi: The upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, which mostly begins in the month of June or July, may still be held as per the schedule, said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday (May 10), amid concerns that the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic may delay the session. The Speaker stressed that it was a testing time due to COVID-19 crisis but expressed hope that the session could be held as per normal schedule.
"The upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament will be held as per the schedule. Till now, there are no plans to postpone the session. The decision will be taken as per the situation at that time," ANI quoted the Speaker as saying.
Experts have opined that the session could be delayed until the last week of September, as the Constitution allows a maximum six-month gap between two consecutive sessions. In 2019, the Monsoon Session ran between June 20 and August 7.
On March 23, the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die in the wake of coronavirus outbreak nearly two weeks ahead of the scheduled date for the conclusion of the Budget Session. A day later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the nationwide lockdown to combat the coronavirus, which has so far afflicted 62,939.
The Budget session had to be ended prematurely on March 23, over 10 days ahead of its last scheduled sitting on April 3.
Earlier this week, AIIMS-Delhi Director Dr Randeep Guleria said as per the modeling data and the way India`s COVID-19 cases are increasing, it is likely that peak can come in June and July. "According to modeling data and the way our cases are increasing, it is likely that peak can come in June and July. But there are many variables. With time only, we will know how much they are effective and the effect of extending the lockdown," said Dr Guleria.
