Special session to mark 60 years of Indian Parliament

New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) Parliament will hold a special session May 13 to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

The first session of Parliament was held May 13, 1952. President Pratibha Patil will address a function in the Central Hall of Parliament in the evening to mark the occasion. The event will be attended by members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

"There will be special sessions of both houses May 13. Later, President Pratibha Patil will address members of both the houses," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told IANS.

He clarified that there would be no joint sitting of the two houses and just a get together. "The first session in a calendar year is the joint session of Parliament and is addressed by the president," said Bansal.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar are also expected to address parliamentarians on the occasion.

During the day, both the houses will sit up to 4 p.m. and discuss the journey of and the various aspects of parliamentary democracy in India since 1952 followed by a resolution.

Special coins of Rs.5 and Rs.10 denominations will be released on the occasion besides a special postage stamp and a few publications during the evening function. This would be followed by a cultural performance comprising song and dance items related to the Indian Parliament.