With the Delhi High Court asking the Central government to explain its stand on a petition that claimed to keep the post of Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha vacant is a violation of Article 93 of the Constitution, the issue is once again in the spotlight.

Article 93: The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of the People The House of the People shall, as soon as may be, choose two members of the House to be respectively Speaker and Deputy Speaker thereof and, so often as the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker becomes vacant, the House shall choose another member to be Speaker or Deputy Speaker, as the case may be …

Speaker and Dy Speaker of the Lok Sabha

[A] Speaker

• The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the presiding officer and the highest authority of the Lok Sabha (House of the People), the lower house of the Parliament.
• Newly elected Members of Parliament from the Lok Sabha elect the Speaker among themselves.
• The Speaker should be someone who understands Lok Sabha functions and it should be someone accepted among the ruling and opposition parties.
• MPs propose a name to the Pro tem speaker. These names are notified to the President of India. The President through their aide Secretary-General notifies the election date.
• If only one name is proposed, the Speaker is elected without any formal vote. However, if more than one nomination is received, a division (vote) is called.
• MPs vote for their candidate on such date notified by President. The successful candidate is elected as Speaker of the Lok Sabha until the next general election

Power and Functions

On the order of precedence, the Speaker of Lok Sabha ranks sixth, along with the Chief Justice of India.

• Conduct of Business: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha conducts the business in house. They maintain discipline and decorum in the house and can punish a member for unruly behavior by suspending them. Further, all comments and speeches made by members of the House are addressed to the Speaker.
• Decisions on Money Bill: He/she decides whether a bill is a money bill or not.
• Various motions: They also permit the moving of various kinds of motions and resolutions such as a motion of no confidence, the motion of adjournment, motion of censure and calling attention notice as per the rules.
• Decision of agenda: The Speaker decides on the agenda to be taken up for discussion during the meeting. The date of election of the Speaker is fixed by the President.
• Joint sitting: The Speaker also presides over the joint sitting of both houses of the Parliament of India. The Speaker also has a casting vote in the event of a tie.

[B] Deputy Speaker

• The Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is not subordinate to the speaker of Lok Sabha; is responsible for the Lok Sabha and is the second-highest-ranking legislative officer of the Lok Sabha.
• He/ She acts as the presiding officer in case of leave of absence caused by death or illness of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• It is by convention that the position of Deputy Speaker is offered to the opposition party in India.

Try answering this PYQ:

Regarding the office of the Lok Sabha Speaker, consider the following statements:

1. He/she holds the office during the pleasure of the President.
2. He/she need not be a member of the house at the time of his/her election but has to become a member of the house within six months from the date of his/her election.
3. if he/she intends to resign, the letter of his/her resignation has to be addressed to the Deputy speaker.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) Only 3

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) None of these

 

Post your answers here.

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