In an unusual move, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will hold a special sitting on Sunday, May 13, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Parliament’s first session held in 1952.
The day will witness separate debates in both Houses on the parliament’s significance in the democratic set-up to be followed by adoption of resolutions.
President Pratibha Patil will address a joint sitting of both houses in the central hall in the evening.
The President will also release coins of R5 and R10 denominations, instead of commemorative coins, which are normally released on such occasions.
Commemorative coins are mostly sold at a high premium, but these coins would be freely available in the market at face value.
A special stamp will also be released by President Patil on the occasion.
The occasion will also see a special photo-opportunity of parliamentarians along with the President and Vice-President Hamid Ansari on May 16.
A special felicitation of Congress? Rajya Sabha member Rishang Keishing (Manipur) is also on the cards, since Keishing is the sole surviving member of the first Lok Sabha formed in 1952.
The earlier proposal to hold a special two-day session on May 12-13 has not found favour with majority of parties cutting all political lines.
In a meeting with the Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar, majority of the leaders of various political parties were of the view that since the Parliament session is already going on, a day-long special sitting would be sufficient.
Lok Sabha Secretary General TK Viswanathan said the final programme would be circulated among the MPs soon, and a cultural programme is also planned for the evening.