Part V: The Union

Chapter II: Parliament

Article 87: Special Address by the President

--- Original Article ---

(1) At the commencement of the first session after each general election to the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year, the President shall address both Houses of Parliament assembled together and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons.

(2) Provision shall be made by the rules regulating the procedure of either House for the allotment of time for discussion of the matters referred to in such address ***.

Amendment: The words "and for the precedence of such discussion over other business of the House" were omitted by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 7 (w.e.f. 18-6-1951).

Explanations

Article 87 underscores the ceremonial and constitutional role of the President in addressing Parliament at critical junctures, particularly after general elections and at the start of each year. This article emphasizes transparency and accountability as the President outlines the government’s legislative and policy intentions.

Clause Headings and Explanation

Clause (1): Mandatory Address at Key Sessions

The President is required to address both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha together at the beginning of:

• The first session after a general election to the House of the People
• The first session of each calendar year

This address is a vital communication tool, detailing the government's achievements, challenges, and future plans, setting the legislative agenda for Parliament.

Clause (2): Parliamentary Time for Discussion

Rules must provide for time to discuss the President’s address in both Houses. Initially, this clause also mandated precedence for this discussion over other business. However, the 1951 Amendment removed this requirement, giving Parliament flexibility in scheduling other urgent matters as needed.

Amendment and Impact

1951 Omission: The deletion of the phrase “and for the precedence of such discussion over other business of the House” reflected a shift towards greater procedural independence for Parliament. By allowing the Houses to determine their priorities, this change accommodated a more adaptable legislative agenda.

Historical Context

Modeled after the British tradition, where the monarch’s speech marks the beginning of the legislative year, Article 87’s Presidential address is a significant event. It highlights the synergy between the executive and legislative branches, with the Head of State introducing policies and Parliament deliberating on them.

Real-life Example

In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the President’s address emphasized the importance of public health and economic resilience. The address prompted vigorous discussions in Parliament on pandemic response measures and economic recovery strategies.

References

• The Constitution of India, Article 87
• The Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951
• Lok Sabha Secretariat publications on the President's Address and its significance

Legislative History

Article 87 of the Indian Constitution, originally drafted and deliberated on May 18th, 1949 as Article 71 of the Draft Constitution, was incorporated into the final text of the Indian Constitution.

Debates and Amendments

Professor K. T. Shah suggested amending the article to broaden the President's session-opening address. He proposed replacing the requirement for the President to state only the cause of the summons with a mandate to also cover the general state of the Union, financial proposals, and important policy issues. Shah argued that this change would increase transparency, inform the public about government activities, and reinforce the President's role as a non-partisan representative of the Republic.

Dr. P. S. Deshmukh opposed the requirement for the President to address Parliament at every session, questioning its necessity. He drew a comparison to the King of England and suggested that enforcing this obligation was unnecessary. Deshmukh recommended the complete omission of the clause.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar clarified that Professor K. T. Shah's amendment sought to explicitly state what was already covered by the phrase "causes of its summons." He pointed out that this phrase was derived from British parliamentary practices and already addressed Shah's concerns.

Consequently, the article was adopted unchanged by the Constituent Assembly after these debates.