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PARLIAMENT OF INDIA

Parliament is the supreme legislative body of a country. The Indian Parliament comprises of the President and the two Houses Lok Sabha (House of the People) and Rajya Sabha (Council of States). The President has the power to summon and prorogue either House of Parliament or to dissolve Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha: Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of Parliament. It has not more than 250 members. Members of Rajya Sabha are not elected by the people directly but indirectly by the Legislative Assemblies of the various States. Every State is allotted a certain number of members. No member of Rajya Sabha can be under 30 years of age. Twelve of Rajya Sabha members are nominated by the President from persons who have earned distinction in their respective fields like literature, art, science and social service. Rajya Sabha is a permanent body. It is not subject to dissolution but one-third of its members retire every two years. Rajya Sabha was duly constituted for the first time on April 3,1952 and it held its first sitting on May 13,1952.There are at present 245 members in Rajya Sabha, distributed among different States and Union Territories as follows:

(1) Andhra Pradesh --18
(2) Arunachal Pradesh --1
(3) Assam-- 7
(4) Bihar-- 22
(5) Goa-- 1
(6) Gujarat-- 11
(7) Haryana-- 5
(8) Himachal Pradesh-- 3
(9) Jammu & Kashmir-- 4
(10) Karnataka-- 12
(11) Kerala-- 9
(12) Madhya Pradesh-- 16
(13) Maharashtra-- 19
(14) Manipur-- 1
(15) Meghalaya-- 1
(16) Mizoram-- 1
(17) Nagaland-- 1
(18) Orissa-- 10
(19) Punjab-- 7
(20) Rajasthan-- 10
(21) Sikkim --1
(22) Tamil Nadu-- 18
(23) Tripura-- 1
(24) Uttar Pradesh-- 34
(25) West Bengal-- 16
(26) Delhi-- 3
(27) Pondicherry-- 1 (28) Nominated by the President under 12 Article 80(1) (a) of the Constitution Presiding Officers Lok Sabha elects one of its own members as its Presiding Officer and he is called the Speaker. He is assisted by the Deputy Speaker who is also elected by Lok Sabha. The conduct of business in Lok Sabha is the responsibility of the Speaker. The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. He is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament. Rajya Sabha also elects one of its members to be the Deputy Chairman.

The Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950. The first general, elections under the new Constitution were held during the year 1951-52 and the first elected Parliament came into being in April, 1952,
The Second Lok Sabha in April,1957,
The Third Lok Sabha in April,1962,
The Fourth Lok Sabha in March, 1967,
The Fifth Lok Sabha in March, 1971,
The Sixth Lok Sabha in March, 1977,
The Seventh Lok Sabha in January,1980,
The Eighth Lok Sabha in December, 1984,
The Ninth Lok Sabha in December, 1989,
The Tenth Lok Sabha in June, 1991,
The Eleventh Lok Sabha in May, 1996,
And The Twelth Lok Sabha in March, 1998.

Lok Sabha : Lok Sabha, as the name itself signifies, is the body representative of the people. Its members are directly elected normally once every five years by the adult population who are eligible to vote. The minimum qualifying age for membership of the House is 25 years.
The present membership of Lok Sabha is 545. The number is divided among the different States and Union Territories as follows:

(1) Andhra Pradesh-- 42
(2) Arunachal Pradesh --2
(3) Assam --14
(4) Bihar-- 54
(5) Goa-- 2
(6) Gujarat-- 26
(7) Haryana-- 10
(8) Himachal Pradesh --4
(9) Jammu & Kashmir --6
(10) Karnataka --28
(11) Kerala --20
(12) Madhya Pradesh --40
(13) Maharashtra --48
(14) Manipur --2
(15) Meghalaya --2
(16) Mizoram --1
(17) Nagaland --1
(18) Orissa --21
(19) Punjab --13
(20) Rajasthan --25
(21) Sikkim --1
(22) Tamil Nadu --39
(23) Tripura --2
(24) Uttar Pradesh --85
(25) West Bengal --42
(26) Andaman & Nicobar Islands --1
(27) Chandigarh --1
(28) Dadra & Nagar Haveli --1
(29) Daman & Diu --1
(30) Delhi --7
(31) Lakshadweep --1
(32) Pondicherry --1
(33) Anglo-lndians (if nominated 2 by the President under Article 331 of the Constitution)

LOK SABHA MEMBERS

Mrs. Chabilia Arvind Netam Shri C.Narayana Swamy

Dr. Krupasindhu Bhoi Shri A.R.Antulay

Smt. Maneka Gandhi Shri G.L.Kanaujia

Shri B.S.Rawat Shri Bhakt Charan Das

Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda Shri Sriballav Panigrahi

Shri Nitish Bharadwaj Shri Hannan Mollah

Shri Gumanmal Lodha Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy

The qualifying age for membership of Lok Sabha is 25 years. The Lok Sabha at present consists of 545 members including the Speaker and two nominated members.

Lok Sabha, unless sooner dissolved, continues for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and the expiration of the period of five years operates as dissolution of the House. However, while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, this period may 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.

Presiding Officers

Lok Sabha elects one of its own members as its Presiding Officer and he/she is called the Speaker. He/she is assisted by the Deputy Speaker who is also elected by Lok Sabha. The conduct of business in Lok Sabha is the responsibility of the Speaker.

Procedure in the House

The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha and Directions issued by the Speaker from time to time thereunder regulate the procedure in Lok Sabha.

The items of business, notice of which is received from the Ministers/ Private Members and admitted by the Speaker, are included in the daily List of Business which is printed and circulated to members in advance.

For various items of business to be taken up in the House the time is allotted by the House on the recommendations of the Business Advisory Committee.

Time of Sittings

When in session, Lok Sabha holds its sittings usually from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M. and from 2 P.M. to 6 P.M. On some days the sittings are continuously held without observing lunch break and are also extended beyond 6 P.M. depending upon the business before the House. Lok Sabha does not ordinarily sit on Saturdays and Sundays and other closed holidays.

Commencement of a Sittings

At the time fixed for the commencement of a sitting the Marshal of the House after ascertaining that 55 members are present in the House which number including the Speaker is required to from the quorum, announces Hon'ble Members, Hon'ble the Speaker

The Speaker then reaches his seat from his Chamber and the members rise in their seats. After bowing or doing namaskar with folded hands to all sides of the House which is reciprocated by members bowing or folding hands towards the Chair, the Speaker takes his seat. Thereafter the members take their seats and the business of the House starts.

Before the business entered in the order paper is taken up, a new member who has not yet made and subscribed an oath or affirmation does so. In the case of death of a sitting or an ex-member or a leading personality, obituary references are made and this item is also taken up before Questions.

Question Hour

The first hour of every sitting of Lok Sabha is called the Question hour. Asking of questions in Parliament is the free and unfettered right of members. It is during the Question hour that they may ask questions on different aspects of administration and Government policy in the national as well as international spheres. Every Minister whose turn it is to answer to questions has to stand up and answer for his Ministry's acts of omission or commission.

Questions are of three types - Starred, Unstarred and Short Notice. A Starred Question is one to which a member desires an oral answer in the House and which is distinguished by an asterisk mark. An unstarred Quesion is one which is not called for oral answer in the house and on which no supplementary questions can consequently be asked. An answer to such a question is given in writing. Minimum period of notice for starred/ unstarred question is 10 clear days.

If the questions given notice of are admitted by the Speaker, they are listed and printed for answer on the dates allotted to the Ministries to which the subject matter of the question pertains.

The normal period of notice does not apply to Short Notice Questions which relate to matters of urgent public importance. However, a Short Notice Question may only be answered on short notice if so permitted by the Speaker and the Minister concerned is prepared to answer it at shorter notice. A Short Notice Question is taken up for answer immediately after the Question Hour.

Business after Question Hour

After the Question Hour, the House takes up miscellaneous items of work before proceeding to the main business of the day. These may consist of one or more of the following:-

Adjournment Motions, Questions involving breaches of Privileges, Papers to be laid on the Table, Communication of any messages from Rajya Sabha, Intimations regarding President's assent to Bills, Calling Attention Notices, Matters under Rule 377, Presentation of Reports of Parliamentary Committee, Presentation of Petitions, - miscellaneous statements by Ministers, Motions regarding elections to Committees, Bills to be withdrawn or introduced.

Main Business

The main business of the day may be consideration of a Bill or financial business or consideration of a resolution or a motion.

Legislative Business

Legislative proposals in the form of a Bill can be brought forward either by a Minister or by a private member. In the former case it is known as Government Bill and in the latter case it is known as a Private Members' Bill. Every Bill passes through three stages - called three readings - before it is passed. To become law it must be passed by both the Houses of Parliament(Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and then assented to by the President.

Financial Business

The presentation of the annual Budgets - General and Railways - their discussion and voting on the various demands for grants followed by passing of Appropriation Bill and Finance Bill, which is long drawn process, take up a major part of the time of the House during its Budget Session every year.

Motions and Resolutions

Among the other kinds of business which come up before the House are resolutions and motions. Resolutions and motions may be brought forward by Government or by private members. Government may move a resolution or a motion for obtaining the sanction to a scheme or opinion of the House on an important matter of policy or on a grave situation. Similarly, a private member may move a resolution or motion in order to draw the attention of the House and of the Government to a particular problem.

The last Two and Half hours of sitting on every Friday are generally allotted for transaction of private members' business. While private members' bills are taken up on one Friday, private members' resolutions are taken up on the succeeding Friday, and so on.

Half-an-Hour Discussion.

A Half-an-Hour Discussion can be raised on a matter of sufficient public importance which has been the subject of a recent question in Lok Sabha irrespective of the fact whether the question was answered orally or the answer was laid on the Table of the House and the answer which needs elucidation on a matter of fact. Normally not more than half an hour is allowed for such a discussion.

Usually, half-an-hour discussion is listed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only, In one session, a member is allowed to raise not more than two half-an-hour discussions.

During the discussion, the member who has given notice makes a short statement and not more than four members who have intimated earlier and have secured one of the four places in the ballot are permitted to ask a question each for further elucidating any matter of fact. Thereafter, the Minister concerned replies. There is no formal motion before the House nor voting.

Discussion on Matters of Urgent Public Importance

Members may raise discussions on matters of urgent public importance with the permission of the Speaker. Such discussions may take place on two days in a week.

No formal motion is moved in the House nor is there any voting on such a discussion.

Debate in the House

After the member who initiates discussion on an item of business has spoken, other members can speak on that item of business in such order as the Speaker may call upon them. Only one member can speak at a time and all speeches are directed to the Chair. A matter requiring the decision of the House is decided by means of a question put by the Speaker on a motion made by a member.

Division

A division is one of the forms in which the decision of the House is ascertained. Normally, when a motion is put to the House members for and against it indicate their opinion by saying "Aye" or "No" from their seats. The Chair goes by the voices and declares that the motion is either accepted or negatived by the House. If a member challenges the decision, the Chair orders that the lobbies be cleared. Then the division bell is rung and an entire network of bells installed in the various parts and rooms in Parliament House and Parliament House Annexe rings continuously for three and a half minutes. Members and Ministers rush to the Chamber from all sides. After the bell stops, all the doors to the Chamber are closed and nobody can enter or leave the Chamber till the division is over. Then the Chair puts the question for second time and declares whether in its opinion the "Ayes" or the "Noes", have it. If the opinion so declared is again challenged, the Chair asks the votes to be recorded by operating the Automatic Vote Recording Equipment.

Automatic Vote Recording System

With the announcement of the Speaker for recording the votes, the Secretary- General presses the button of a key board. Then a gong sounds serving as a singnal to membes for casting their votes. For casting a vote each member present in the Chamber has to press a switch and then operate one of the three push buttons fixed in his seat. The push switch must be kept pressed simultaneously until the gong sounds for the second time after 10 seconds.

There are two Indicator Boards installed in the wall on either side of the Speaker's Chair in the Chamber. Each vote cast by a member is flashed here. Immediately after the votes are cast, they are totalled mechanically and the details of the results are flashed on the Result Indicator Boards installed in the railings of the Speaker's and Diplomatic Galleries.

Divisions are normally held with the aid of the Automatic Vote Recording Equipment. Where so directed by the Speaker in terms of relevant provision in the Rules of Procedure etc. in Lok Sabha, Divisions may be held either by distribution of 'Aye'/'No' and 'Abstention' slips to members in the House or by the members recording their votes by going into the lobbies.

There is an Indicator Board in the machine room showing the name of each member. The result of Division and vote cast by each member with the aid of Automatic Vote Recording Equipment appear on this Board also. Immediately a photograph of the Indicator Board is taken. Later the Photograph is enlarged and the names of members who voted 'Ayes' and for 'Noes' are determined with the help of the photograph and incorporated in Lok Sabha Debates.

Publication of Debates

Three versions of Lok Sabha Debates are prepared viz., the Hindi version, the English version and the Original version. Only the Hindi and English versions are printed. The Original version, in cyclostyled form, is kept in the Parliament Library for record and reference.

The Hindi version comprises all Questions asked and Answers given thereto in Hindi and the speeches made in Hindi as also verbatim Hindi translation of Questions and Answers and of speeches made in English or in regional languages.

The English version contains Lok Sabha proceedings in English and the English translation of the proceedings which take place in Hindi or in any regional language.

The Original version, however, contains proceedings in Hindi or in English as they actually take place in the House and also the English/Hindi translation of speeches made in regional languages.

Functions of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

The main function of both the Houses is to pass laws. Every Bill has to be passed by both the Houses and assented to by the President before it becomes law. The subjects over which Parliament can legislate are the subjects mentioned under the Union List in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Broadly speaking, Union subjects are those important subjects which for reasons of convenience, efficiency and security are administered on all-lndia basis. The principal Union subjects are Defence, Foreign Affairs, Railways, Transport and Communications, Currency and Coinage, Banking, Customs and Excise Duties. There are numerous other subjects on which both Parliament and State Legislatures can legislate. Under this category mention may be made of economic and social planning, social security and insurance, labour welfare, price control and vital statistics. Besides passing laws, Parliament can by means of resolutions, motions for adjournment,discussions and questions addressed by members to Ministers exercise control over the administration of the country and safeguard people's liberties.

Difference between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

(1) Members of Lok Sabha are directly elected by the eligible voters. Members of Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of State Assemblies in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
(2) The normal life of every Lok Sabha is 5 years only while Rajya Sabha is a permanent body.
(3) Lok Sabha is the House to which the Council of Ministers is responsible under the Constitution. Money Bills can only be introduced in Lok Sabha. Also it is Lok Sabha which grants the money for running the administration of the country.
(4) Rajya Sabha has special powers to declare that it is necessary and expedient in the national interest that Parliament may make laws with respect to a matter in the State List or to create by law one or more all- lndia services common to the Union and the States.

PARLIAMENT HOUSE ESTATE

Parliament House Estate comprises the Parliament House, Reception Office building and Parliament House Annexe, 36 Gurdwara Rakabganj Road, 23 Mahadev Road and the extensive lawns around it where ponds with fountains have been provided. Special floral decoration is done at important points in the building during sessions of Parliament as well as on other important occasions.

By the very nature of things, Parliament House Estate as a whole and the Chambers of the two Houses in particular are subject to strict security precaution all round the year.

The entire Parliament House Estate is enclosed by an ornamental red sand stone wall or iron grills with iron gates that can be closed when occasions demand. The approach roads which cut across the Parliament House Estate and form part of the Estate are not allowed to be used as public thoroughfares.

Parliament House is one of the most magnificent buildings in New Delhi which has one of the brightest clusters of architectural gems possessed by any country in the world. Visitors to the capital invariably pay a visit to this building as the two Houses of Parliament--the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) are located within its walls.

Construction of the Building

The building was designed by two famous architects-Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker--who were responsible for the planning and construction of New Delhi.
The Foundation stone of Parliament House was laid on the 12th February,1921 by H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught. The construction of the building took six years and the opening ceremony was performed on the 18th January,1927 by the tenth Governor-General of India, Lord Irwin. The cost of construction was Rs 83 lakhs.

Size of the Building

Parliament House is a massive circular edifice 560 feet (170.69 metres) in diameter. Its circumference is one-third of a mile 536.33 metres and it covers an area of nearly six acres (24281.16 square metres) . The open verandah on the first floor is fringed with a colonnade of 144 creamy sandstone columns each 27 feet (8.23 metres) high. The building has twelve gates among which Gate No. 1 on the Sansad Marg is the main gate.

Architectural Design

Apart from the fact that the building was built with indigenous material and by Indian labour, the architecture of the building bears a close imprint of the Indian tradition. The layout of fountains both inside and outside the building, the use of Indian symbols the "Chhajjas" which shade the walls and windows and the varied forms of "Jali" in marble are reminders of the story of the craftsmanship displayed in ancient monuments and memorials. With the ancient features of Indian art are mingled modern scientific achievements in acoustics, air-conditioning, simultaneous Interpretation and Automatic Voting etc.

General Lay-out of the Building

The centre and focus of the building is the big circular edifice of the Central Hall. On the three axis, radiating from this centre are placed the three Chambers for Lok Sabha (House of the People), Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Library Hall (formerly the Princes Chamber) and between them lie garden courts. Surrounding these three Chambers is a four storeyed circular structure providing accommodation for Ministers, Chairmen, Parliamentary Committees, Party Offices, important offices of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Secretariats and also the Offices of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

Three Committee Rooms on the first floor are used for meetings of Parliamentary Committees. Three other rooms on the same floor are used by Press Correspondents who come to the Press Galleries of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

There are six lifts operating in the building, one on either side of the entrances to the Chambers. The Central Hall is air cooled and the three Chambers are air-conditioned.

The outer wall of the corridor on the ground floor of the building is decorated with a series of panels depicting the history of India from the ancient times and India's cultural contacts with neighbours.

Central Hall

The Central Hall is circular in shape and its dome which is 98 ft. (29.87 metres) in diameter is stated to be one of the most magnificent domes in the world.

The Central Hall is a place of historical importance. The Indian Constitution ,was framed in the Central Hall and the transfer of power on the 15th August, 1947 from British to Indian hands also took place in the same Hall. The Indian Constitution was also framed in the Central Hall.

The Central Hall was originally used as the Library of the erstwhile Central Legislative Assembly and the Council of States. In 1946, it was converted and refurnished into the Constituent Assembly Hall. The Constituent Assembly met there from December 9, 1946 to January 24, 1950.

At present, the Central Hall is used for holding Joint Sittings of the two Houses. At the commencement of the first session after each general elections to Lok Sabha and at the commencement of the first session of each year, the President addresses both the Houses of Parliament assembled together in the Central Hall. When the Houses are in session, the Central Hall is used by Members for informal discussions among themselves. Central Hall is also used for special occasions when the Members of Parliament are addressed by distinguished Heads of States of other countries. The Hall is also equipped with simultaneous Interpretation System.

Overlooking the dais in the Centre of the Central Hall hangs a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi painted by Sir Oswald Birley and donated to the nation by Shri A.P. Pattani, a Member of the Constituent Assembly of India. Gilded panels on the walls and arches on either side of dais contain portraits of the following distinguished national leaders:--

(i) Madan Mohan Malviya

(ii) Dadabhai Nauroji

(iii) Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak

(iv) Lala Lajpat Rai

(v) Motilal Nehru

(vi) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

(vii) Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das

(viii) Rabindra Nath Tagore

(ix) Sarojini Naidu

(x) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

(xi) Dr. Rajendra Prasad

(xii) Jawaharlal Nehru

(xiii) Subhash Chandra Bose

(xiv) C. Rajagopalachari

(xv) Smt. Indira Gandhi

(xvi) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

(xvii) Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia

(xviii) Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee

(xix) Rajiv Gandhi

(xx) Lal Bahadur Shastri

(xxi) Ch. Charan Singh

(xxii) Morarji Desai

There are also 12 gilded emblems on the wall of the Hall representing the 12 Provinces of undivided India. Surrounding the Central Hall are six lobbies which are suitably covered and furnished. One Lounge is reserved for the exclusive use of lady Members , one for First Aid Post, one for Panel of Chairmen of Lok Sabha, one for Computer query booth for MP's and one for reprography service.

The Central Hall has six galleries on its first floor. At the time of Joint Sittings of the two Houses, the two Galleries which are towards the right of the dais are occupied by Press Correspondents, the one facing the dais is set apart for distinguished visitors and in the other three the guests of the Members of the two Houses are accommodated.

Lok Sabha Chamber

The Chamber of the Lok Sabha is semi-circular in shape with a floor area of about 4800 sq. feet (446 square metres).

The Chair of the Speaker is placed on a raised platform at the centre of the diameter connecting the two ends of the semi-circle. On the wooden panel just above the Speaker's Chair, which was originally designed by Sir Herbert Baker, the famous architect is installed an electrically-lit motto in Sanskrit . To the right of Chair is located the Official Gallery meant for the use of the officials required to be present in attendance on Ministers in connection with the business of the House. To the left of the Chair is the Special Box reserved for the Members of the family and guests of the President, Governors of States, Heads of Foreign States and their Prime Ministers, and other high personages in the discretion of the Speaker.

In the pit of the Chamber just below the Speaker's Chair is the table of the Secretary-General of the House. In front of him is placed a large table which is the Table of the House on which papers are formally laid by Ministers, Officers of the House and the Official Reporters sit at this Table.

The Chamber has seating accommodation for 550 Members. The seats are divided into six blocks, each with eleven rows. Block No. 1 on the right-hand side of the Speaker's Chair and Block No. 6 on the left-hand side have 97 seats each. The remaining 4 blocks have 89 seats each. A seat is allotted in the Chamber to each Member including Ministers who are Members of Lok Sabha. The seats on the righthand side of the Speaker's Chair are occupied by the Members of Government party and those on the left-hand side by Members belonging to the Opposition Parties/ Groups. The Deputy Speaker occupies the first front row seat on the left side.

Over looking the Chamber and fixed on the wood-work opposite to the Speaker's seat is the portrait of the late Shri Vithalbhai Patel, the first elected President of the Indian Legislative Assembly.

In the wood-work around the Lok Sabha Chamber, there are 35 gilded designs representing the various Provinces of undivided India, the Dominions and certain other British Settlements.

Members Lobbies

Adjoining the Chamber and co-terminous with it are two covered corridors called the Inner and Outer Lobbies. These Lobbies are well furnished to make them a comfortable place for Members to sit and have informal discussions among themselves.

Visitors Galleries

In the first floor of the Lok Sabha Chamber are located the various public galleries and the Press Gallery. The Press Gallery is just above the Chair and to its left are situated the Speaker's Gallery (meant for the guests of the Speaker) the Rajya Sabha Gallery (meant for Rajya Sabha Members) and the Special Gallery. The Public Gallery is in front of the Press Gallery. To the right of the Press Gallery are situated Diplomatic and Distinguished Visitors' Galleries.

Integrated system on Microphone Management, Simultaneous Interpretation and automatic Vote Recording

The Lok Sabha Chamber is provided with a modern automatic Vote Recording and Sound Amplifying System. Powerful microphones are also placed in selected positions on pedestal stands as back up. Each seat is provided with a sensitive microphone on a flexible stand, a loud-speaker concealed in the back of the bench. Small loudspeakers are also provided in the galleries.

The Automatic Vote Recording Systems installed in the Lok Sabha Chamber enables the Members to record their votes quickly in cases of Division.

The Interpretation system is designed to interpret the proceedings of the House simultaneously from English into Hindi and vice versa and from Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu into English and Hindi. A member intending to speak in any one of these languages is to give advance intimation to the Officer of the Table. During Question Hour also, the Member who has raised the principal question can put supplementaries in any of the above languages with prior notice. The Members can also make statements under Rule 377 in the above-mentioned languages.

Rajya Sabha Chamber

This is almost on the same pattern as that of the Lok Sabha Chamber but it is smaller in size. It has a seating capacity of 250. It is also equipped with modern sound equipment, Automatic Vote Recording Equipment and the Simultaneous Interpretation System.
The Public Gallery, the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery, the Diplomatic Gallery, the Chairman's Gallery (meant for the guests of the Chairman), the Press Gallery and the Gallery for Members of the Lok Sabha are allocated on the first floor of the Rajya Sabha Chamber as in the case of the Lok Sabha Chamber.

Parliament Library

Parliament Library is located on the ground floor in the Library Hall, in the rooms adjoining it and in a number of rooms on the first floor close to Lift Nos. 3 and 4. The Library Hall was originally constructed to serve as a Conference Hall for the Rulers of the various States of undivided India and used to be called the "Princes Chamber". After Independence it was temporarily used as a Court Room by the Supreme Court. With the shifting of the Supreme Court to its own building the design of the Chamber was slightly altered and it now serve as Library Hall. A large number of journals and newspapers are kept there on well arranged reading tables.

On the wooden panelling of the Library Hall, there are 102 emblems of the erstwhile Indian States.

Reports of Government Departments, Debates of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Statutes and various other publications for reference are available for Members in the Ground Floor Library. The Library on the first floor contains books on a wide range of subjects.

Parliament Library is mainly intended for the use of Members of Parliament and there are well furnished reading rooms both on the ground floor and on the first floor where Members can study in an atmosphere of calm and quiet.

Special amenities to Members in Parliament House

For the convenience of Members of Parliament the following amenities are provided in Parliament House:--

(i) Refreshment Rooms
The main Refreshment rooms are located in Room Nos.70 and 73 on the First Floor. There are also small Tea, Coffee and Milk Booths near the passages leading to the Chambers from the Central Hall.

(ii) Railway Booking Office (Room No. 131 on the Third Floor).

(iii) Railway Booking Office in the Reception Block.

(iv) Pay Office of the State Bank of India (Room No. 57, First Floor).

(v) First Aid Post located in a lobby of the Central Hall.

(vi) Post Office (Ground Floor).

(vii) Air Booking (Room No. 131-A on the Third   Floor).

(viii) C. P.W.D. Complaint Cell.

Reception Office

The Reception Office accommodated in a circular building, recently constructed, opposite Gate No. 1, is a friendly waiting place for large number of visitors who come to meet Members, Ministers, etc. or to witness the proceedings of Parliament. Its entry is from Raisina Road side. The building which is fully air-conditioned is unique in conception and combines the value of both the old and the new forms of architecture. The outer portion of the building is finished in red sandstone and the inner portion is given wooden lining which radiates the feeling of warmth and welcome. There is provision for cafeteria inside the Reception Office for the convenience of the visitors.

There is a lounge at basement level in the Reception Office Building for the convenience of Members, where they can meet and entertain their guests.

Parliament House Annexe (Sansadiya Soudha)

With the manifold increase in the activities of Parliament after Independence the demand for accommodation for Parliamentary Parties/Groups. Meeting Halls for Parties/ Groups, Committee Rooms and office for the Chairmen of Parliamentary Committees and for the Secretariats for the two Houses has vastly increased. The original Parliament House comprised three Chambers for:

(i) The Central Assembly

(ii) The Council of States

(iii) The Princes Chamber

At that time, the strength of membership of all the three Houses was about 300. The strength of the present Parliament is 795. In order to meet the essential requirements of Members and to extend some of the facilities provided to them, Parliament House Annexer was constructed. The provision of such facilities is imperative in the interest of the efficient discharge of the heavy responsibilities placed on the people's representatives.

Construction of the building

The building was designed by Shri J.M. Benjamin, Chief Architect, CPWD, and the
structure is R.C.C. framed with waffle-slab construction. The building is modern, functional, economical and dignified.

The foundation-stone of Parliament House Annexe was laid on the 3rd August,1970 by Shri V.V. Giri, President. It was inaugurated on 24th October, 1975 by Shrimati Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister.

General Layout of the building

The building has 3 wings--front, rear and central blocks besides a covered plaza for car parking in front of it. The front and rear blocks are 3-storeyed and the central block is 6-storeyed with terrace.

Front Block

There are lounge, Post Office and a small Committee Room at basement level and State Bank of India Branch and Multi Purpose Hall on the Ground Floor. The rooms of Speaker, Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Secretary General, Rajya Sabha, Secretary-General, Lok Sabha and Party Meeting Room are located on the first floor. The water pond at basement level with hanging stairs over it and pyramids for diffused natural light add beauty to the area.

Central Block

At the basement level, there is fully equipeed Medical Centre comprising, Physiotherapy Centre, Eye Clinic, Dental Clinic, Pathological Laboratory, an in house Telephone Exchange & Telecom Bureau, are also located at the basement level Banquet Hall, Private Dining Rooms and Refreshment Rooms are located.

From 2nd to 5th floors the Secretariats of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are located.

On the Terrace floor, Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training is situated which is primarily set up for the study and training of Parliamentary institutions of the country.

Canteen, Library and club for the staff of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are also located on the either sides of the Terrace floor.

Committee Rooms

At the basement level, there is one small Committee Room `E'. At ground level there is one Main Committee Room and Four small Committee Rooms which are grouped around a Central court. At First Floor, there is one Mini Committee Room. All the Committee Rooms are provided with simultaneous interpretation system as is available in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Chambers in Parliament House. The offices of Chairmen, Parliamentary Committees. are also located on this floor.

Special amenities for Members in Parliament House Annexe

For the convenience of Members of Parliament the following amenities are provided in Parliament House Annexe:--

(1) Refreshment Rooms on ground floor.

(2) Milk Bar on ground floor.

(3) Banquet Hall and Private Dining Room on ground floor for special parties/functions.

(4) Medical Examination Centre.

(5) State Bank of India on ground floor.

(6) Post Office on basement floor.

(7) Multipurpose Hall on ground floor.

(8) Lounges on basement and ground floors.

(9) Income-Tax Cell--Room No. 314 third floor.

(10) Telecom Bureau--basement floor.

EPABX Telephone Exchange

A modern and efficient EPABX telephone exchange has been installed in Parliament House Annexe, which is exclusively catering to the Parliament House Estate. The same instrument is used for inter-com and external calls. For a call outside the EPABX Exchange, the required number is dialled after prefixing the '0' digit.