THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Legislative Assembly is gearing up for a historic sitting on Saturday, November 1st, a day usually reserved for recess. The special session has been called for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s key announcement to mark Kerala Piravi (the formation day of Kerala), making it the first time the Assembly will convene on a Saturday in 38 years.
The last time the Kerala Assembly sat on a weekend was on December 11 and 12, 1987, which fell on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The weekend sitting was necessitated after discussions on the Anti-Corruption Bill, which began on Friday, December 11th, failed to conclude. The debate extended into Saturday and finally concluded in the early hours of Sunday, December 13th, at 4:35 AM, when the Bill was passed. E. K. Nayanar was the Chief Minister at the time.
Midnight Session and Historical Precedents
Another notable historical instance of the Assembly convening outside of routine hours was on August 14, 1972, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of India’s independence. The special midnight session began at 10:30 PM and concluded at 12:15 AM on August 15th. C. Achutha Menon was the Chief Minister, and documents show speeches by figures like K. Karunakaran and T. K. Divakaran. Significantly, the CPM members, led by E. M. S. Namboodiripad, had boycotted that session.
The upcoming November 1st session also places the stance of the Opposition, led by V. D. Satheesan, under scrutiny.
Rule Suspension for Saturday Sitting
Historically, the Travancore-Cochin Assembly and its predecessors did not observe Saturdays as a holiday. It was only after the formation of the Kerala Legislative Assembly that Rule 13(2) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business was amended to declare Saturday a holiday.
Therefore, for the Assembly to convene on November 1st, Rule 13(2) must first be temporarily suspended. The Assembly alone has the power to suspend its own rules. The special session on November 1st will thus begin with the necessary procedural step of suspending the rule to allow the Saturday sitting.
