By Devender Singh Aswal
It is a well established parliamentary convention to make a valedictory address before adjourning the House. The valedictory address is given by the Speaker at the end of the last day of a session. The Indian Parliament meets in three sessions-Budget, Monsoon and Winter- and each House is adjourned with a valedictory reference or speech. In the valedictory, the Speaker usually gives a brief summary of the legislations passed, Bills introduced, Bills referred to the Committees, time spent on discussions, etc. The Speaker/Chairman also thanks the secretarial officers and staff for their hard work and cooperation and also the agencies involved in servicing the House. The Valedictory at the end of the last session of every Lok Sabha is more elaborate and full of nostalgic speeches in which the Leader of the House, the Leader of Opposition and the leaders of political parties speak. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar, the Speaker of the first Lok Sabha, after the death of Mavalankar-the first Speaker, in his valedictory address on 28th March, 1957 profusely thanked the MPs for their industry, hard-work and cooperation, and emphasised the values of Parliamentary democracy, democratic traditions, and the need for change and continuity.
The valedictory address is not a mandatory constitutional or statutory requirement. Of course, it’s another matter that the constitutionally binding direction to elect the Dy Speaker, has not been implemented from the 17th Lok Sabha up till in the 18th Lok Sabha. In absence of a constitutional provision, the Speaker may declare the House adjourned sine die without delivering a valedictory address or without making the customary remarks of farewell. However the practice of making valedictory remarks has been in vogue right from the Constituent Assembly (CA). Dr Rajendra Prasad, the President of the CA, in his address in the last sitting of the Constituent Assembly on 26 November, 1949 gave vital information about the work of the CA, highlighted the salient features of the Constitution and thanked the members for their arduous labour of love and apprised them about the expenditure incurred (₹63,96,729) on running the Assembly.
It is interesting to recall that the 16th Lok Sabha, with 17 sessions, had invariably valedictory addresses. So was it during the 17th Lok Sabha which had 15 sessions. In case the Speaker is not available, the valedictory reference is made by the occupant of the Chair. For instance, since the 17th Lok Sabha did not choose the Dy Speaker and the Speaker was not a available, the valedictory address at the close of a session was made by a member of the panel of Chairmen. Therefore, it is apparently unusual for the Speaker not to make a valedictory reference or speech. However, during the Budget session of Parliament, the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on 18 April 2026 after singing of the National Song without valedictory speech. Since there is no constitutional provision or Rule, the absence of a valedictory address does not invalidate the adjournment or the session. The Monsoon Session, 2026, ran from July 20 to August 13, 2026, with 19 sittings by each House. The session had constant disruptions though the Govt managed to pass without discussion as many as 11 Amendment Bills by voice vote in constant din and disruptions. Both the Houses faced constant sloganeering and logjams. Even the Question Hour, considered the most potent and precious parliamentary device to secure accountability of the executive was disrupted. The Question Hour in Lok Sabha functioned barely for 1 percent though in the Rajya Sabha it was 12 percent. Taken as a whole, the Lok Sabha utilised 15 percent and the Rajya Sabha 33 percent of their time in transaction of slated business. Its amazing that of the 11 Bills passed by the Lok Sabha, 9 were passed without the participation of any member. The Minister in charge introduced the motions for introduction of the Bills, for consideration and passing, and the Bills were passed by voice without deliberations. Only the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, necessitated by the nation wide demonstrations by the GenG, witnessed participation by 48 MPs in the Lok Sabha and by 35 MPs in the Rajya Sabha. Unfortunately, the entire session faced continuous logjams and disruptions. Instead of the solemn proceedings, the nation witnessed bizarrae protests within the precincts of Parliament with scenes of MPs holding placards and mocking toys. Some of the scenes were pure theatre bordering on the burlesque.
Interestingly, not only the MPs of the principal opposition parties but even the MPs on the treasury benches held protests. The Opposition demanded statement by the Home Minister and the members of treasury benches, unheard in parliamentary practice, wanted resignation by the leader of opposition. Another, and more disturbing, feature was both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister made appearances in the Lok Sabha on 20th July when the National Anthem-‘Jana gana mana’ was sung and on 13th August when the revised National Song-the Vande Mataram-was sung immediately before adjournment sine die. Despite the three line whip by the ruling party, both did not turn up for voting though members of Lok Sabha. The Government, so stubborn, did not even make a suo motu statement in Parliament on the circumstances necessitating police action against the peaceful protesters. The refusal to make statement or not to sit in Parliament, is being paraded by many as yet another masterstroke. Had there been a statement or structured discussion, it would have given an opportunity to the opposition to give vent to their pent up angst and also to the Govt to show justification and to take the wind out of the sails of the opposition. Perhaps, fearing that the opposition may rake up the issue of police brutalities, the customary valedictory address was methodically done away with. It was lost sight that a valedictory address helps remove the sense of discomfiture or acrimony between the treasury and the benches opposite. The parting words by the Speaker intend to assuage the lurking feeling of any personal rancour or animosity that might have crept in during the stormy debates. After all, the treasury benches and the loyal opposition are sine qua non of parliamentary democracy. The omission of valedictory speech, a sure sign of diffidence , does not bode well for the good health and vigour of our democracy.
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The author is former Addl Secretary, Lok Sabha and a member of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
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