Art. 98 Part V: The Union

Secretariat of Parliament

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Each House of Parliament shall have a separate secretarial staff: Provided that nothing in this clause shall be construed as preventing the creation of posts common to both Houses of Parliament. (2) Parliament may by law regulate the recruitment, and the conditions of service of persons appointed, to the secretarial staff of either House of Parliament.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article establishes each House's own dedicated administrative secretariat (while allowing some shared/common positions where practical), with Parliament itself regulating recruitment and service conditions for this staff — giving Parliament administrative independence from the broader executive-branch civil service for its own internal operations.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why Parliament's own administrative staff operate somewhat separately from the ordinary government civil service — a structural independence safeguard ensuring the legislature isn't administratively dependent on the executive branch it's meant to oversee.

Read alongside this one

Art. 309 — Recruitment and Conditions of Service

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 98

Do Parliament secretariat staff belong to the same civil service as other government employees?

No — this Article specifically allows Parliament to regulate its own secretariat's recruitment and conditions, giving it a degree of administrative independence from the ordinary executive civil service structure.

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The text above reproduces Article 98 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.