Home The Constitution Part V Article 108

Art. 108 Part V: The Union

Joint Sitting of Both Houses in Certain Cases

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) If after a Bill has been passed by one House and transmitted to the other House—(a) the Bill is rejected by the other House; or (b) the Houses have finally disagreed as to the amendments to be made in the Bill; or (c) more than six months elapse from the date of the reception of the Bill by the other House without the Bill being passed by it, the President may, unless the Bill has lapsed by reason of a dissolution of the House of the People, notify to the Houses... his intention to summon them to meet in a joint sitting for the purpose of deliberating and voting on the Bill...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article provides the deadlock-resolution mechanism for ordinary bills — if the Rajya Sabha rejects a bill, the Houses can't agree on amendments, or six months pass without action, the President can summon a JOINT sitting of both Houses together, where a simple majority of all members present (from both Houses combined) decides the bill's fate — and since the Lok Sabha has more members, this mechanism practically favours the Lower House's position in a genuine deadlock.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This has been used only rarely in India's history (most famously for the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, the Banking Service Commission Repeal Bill, 1978, and the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002) — but it's an important structural safety valve preventing the Rajya Sabha from permanently blocking legislation the Lok Sabha strongly supports.

Read alongside this one

Art. 107 — Provisions as to Introduction and Passing of Bills

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 108

Has a joint sitting actually been used in Indian history?

Yes, on three notable occasions — for the Dowry Prohibition Act (1961), the Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill (1978), and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (2002) — each time resolving a genuine Rajya Sabha-Lok Sabha deadlock.

← PreviousArticle 107: Provisions as to Introduction and Passing of Bills Next →Article 109: Special Procedure in Respect of Money Bills

The text above reproduces Article 108 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.