Articles 86 and 87 form part of the constitutional framework governing communication by the President of India with Parliament. Article 86 deals with the President's right to address either House or both Houses and to send messages to Parliament. Article 87 provides for the President's special address to both Houses assembled together at constitutionally specified occasions.
Article 86 gives the President a constitutional channel for formally addressing Parliament and communicating matters for parliamentary consideration. It applies to the Council of States, the House of the People, or both Houses assembled together, as applicable.
Clause (1): The President may address either House of Parliament or both Houses assembled together and may require the attendance of members for that purpose.
Clause (2): The President may send messages to either House concerning a Bill pending in Parliament or any other matter. The House receiving the message is required to consider the matter identified in the message with all convenient despatch.
Article 86 is enabling in character. The expression "may" gives the President the constitutional authority to address Parliament or send messages. A message is not restricted to a pending Bill; the text expressly permits a message on a pending Bill "or otherwise". When a message is sent, the concerned House must consider the matter required by that message.
Article 87 deals with a distinct constitutional address. Unlike the enabling language in Article 86, Article 87(1) uses mandatory language for the occasions specified in the Constitution.
Clause (1): The President shall address both Houses of Parliament assembled together 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, and shall inform Parliament of the causes of its summons.
Clause (2): The rules regulating the procedure of either House must provide time for discussion of the matters referred to in the President's address.
The special address under Article 87 is constitutionally required on two occasions: first, at the commencement of the first session after each general election to the Lok Sabha; and second, at the commencement of the first session of each year. The address is delivered to both Houses assembled together.
Article 86 provides a general constitutional power to address Parliament and send messages. Article 87 creates a specific constitutional requirement for a special address on the occasions stated in that Article. Article 87 also expressly requires procedural rules to allot time for discussion of the matters mentioned in the address.
The present wording of Article 87 reflects the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951. The amendment substituted the original reference to "every session" so that the special address is required at the commencement of the first session of each year, in addition to the first session after a general election to the Lok Sabha. The official Constitution also records the related omission from clause (2).
Legislative Department - Constitution of India
India Code - Central Acts and legal resources
President of India - Speeches and addresses
Digital Sansad - Parliament of India
For the surrounding constitutional scheme relating to Parliament, see the following related pages: