COVID-19: Parliament sets new safety measures for forthcoming monsoon session

August 25: Due to prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the forthcoming monsoon session of the Parliament will include safety measures like large display screens and consoles for participation from galleries, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, special cables between the two Houses and polycarbonate separators among others. The government is of the opinion that conducting monsoon session during the coronavirus pandemic in itself is a big challenge. It is looking to change the timings of both the Houses to prevent any overcrowding in the Parliament premises at any point of time.

The monsoon session of the Parliament will commence on September 14 and conclude on October 1, government sources said on Tuesday adding that the session will be held by observing precautions related to COVID-19. The last Budget Session of Parliament had to be curtailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and both Houses were adjourned sine die on March 23. As per precedent, Parliament has to be convened before the end of six months from the last session.

Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will have 18 sittings each. The sources said that the opposition parties are ready for 18 sittings but they want the session to be extended by a week so that there are weekly offs. A proposal for changing the rules for entry of journalists in the Parliament premises is also being considered owing to COVID-19 pandemic.