Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha

Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha

Speaker and Deputy Speaker

The House of the People shall, as soon as may be, choose two members of the House to be respectively Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Speaker thereof and, so often as the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker becomes vacant, the House shall choose another member to be Speaker, Dy. Speaker. [Art. 93]

Presiding Over the Lok Sabha

• The Speaker presides over the Lok Sabha.

Selection and Oath

• The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are chosen by the Lok Sabha from among its members and take oath as members of the  Lok Sabha, but not as the Speaker or Deputy Speaker. Speaker.

Salary and Allowances

• Salary and allowances of the Speaker are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India—that is, they do not have to be voted by Parliament.

Conduct of the Speaker

• The conduct of the Speaker cannot be discussed except on a substantive motion.

Tenure of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker

The Speaker or the Deputy Speaker normally holds office during the life of the House, but his office may terminate earlier in any of the following ways:

• By his ceasing to be a member of the House.

• By resignation in writing, addressed to the Deputy Speaker, and vice versa.

• By removal from office by a resolution, passed by a majority of all the then members of the House. [Ref. Art. 94]

Notice Period for Removal Resolution

A resolution to remove the Speaker cannot be moved unless at least 14 days' notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution.

1st Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Lok Sabha

• 1st Speaker: Ganesh Vasudev (G.V.) Mavalankar (15.05.1952-27.02.1956)

• 1st Speaker (Tribal): P.A. Sangama (23.05.1996-23.03.1998)

• 1st Speaker (Female): Meira Kumar (01.06.2009-18.05.2014)

• 1st Dy. Speaker: M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar (May 1952-07.03.1956)

Removal Procedure and Speaker's Role During Resolution

While a resolution for his removal is under consideration, the Speaker cannot preside, but he can speak in, take part in the proceedings of the House, and vote except in the case of equality of votes. [Ref.: Art. 96]

Voting Powers of the Speaker

At other meetings of the House, the Speaker cannot vote in the first instance, but can exercise a casting vote in case of equality of votes.

Powers and Functions of the Speaker

• The Speaker has the final power to maintain order within the Lok Sabha and to interpret its Rules and procedure.

• In the absence of a quorum, the Speaker adjourns the House or suspends the meeting until there is a quorum.

• The Speaker's conduct in regulating the procedure or maintaining order in the House cannot be questioned in a Court. [Ref.: Art. 122]

• The Speaker presides over a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament. [Ref. Art. 118(4)]

• When a Money Bill is transmitted from the Lok Sabha to the Rajya Sabha, the Speaker may certify that it is a Money Bill. [Ref. Art. 110(4)]

• The decision of the Speaker on whether a Bill is a Money Bill is final.

Role of Deputy Speaker

While the office of Speaker is vacant or the Speaker is absent from a sitting of the House, the Deputy Speaker presides, except when a resolution for his own removal is under consideration.

Final Thoughts

The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha play a vital role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the House. Their responsibilities go beyond just presiding over the sessions—they safeguard parliamentary discipline, maintain order, and ensure that constitutional provisions are followed.

The independence of their office is protected through provisions like fixed tenure, specific removal procedures, and salaries charged on the Consolidated Fund of India. Importantly, the Speaker’s decisions on Money Bills and their authority in joint sittings highlight their crucial position in the legislative process.

Together, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker ensure that the democratic principles of transparency, fairness, and order are upheld in parliamentary proceedings.