SUMMONING OF ASSEMBLY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 - Polity)

Context: The 60-member Manipur Assembly failed to hold a Special Session to discuss the ongoing ethnic violence as the Raj Bhavan did not issue any notification to convene it despite a recommendation from the State Cabinet. 

• The State Cabinet had recommended to Governor the summoning of the fourth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 21. 
• The last session of the State Assembly was adjourned sine die in March, more than a month before the ethnic clashes between the tribal Kuki and the non-tribal Meitei communities started on May 3.

Summoning of assembly

• Article 174 of the Constitution: The Governor shall from time to time summon the House or each House of the Legislature of the State to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit.
• Article 174 (2) (a) says a governor may from “time to time” prorogue the House and 174 (2) (b) allows her or him to dissolve the Legislative Assembly.
• Article 163: Although it is the Governor’s prerogative to summon the House, the Governor is required to act on the “aid and advice” of the Cabinet.
• So, when the Governor summons the House under Article 174, this is not of his or her own will but on the aid and advice of the Cabinet.
• The Constitution permits the Governor to summon the House on recommendation of the Cabinet.
• But it also adds that she or he would not need their advice if the Constitution requires her or him to carry out any function at her/his discretion.