First Parliamentary meeting should not be considered as first session, says Supreme Court

New Delhi, Mar 29 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by the Republican Party of India (RPI) leader Ramdas Athawale, saying the first meeting of Parliament each year could not be necessarily considered as its first session.

Athawale had challenged Lok Sabha Speaker's decision to treat the first meeting of the House in January 2004 as the continuation of the winter session, which was adjourned sine die on December 23, 2003.

The RPI leader in his petition had challenged that despite the winter session being adjourned, it could not be termed as continuation when it met again in the New Year in the month of January.

He had contended that the meeting of the House for the first time in each year has to be considered as the first sitting of Parliament requiring the address by the President to both the Houses.

The government had then opposing the petition contended that there was no substance in it as the Speaker had then itself decided the issue by citing case laws. (ANI)