Bhartruhari Mahtab sworn as Pro-Tem Speaker of Lok Sabha

Bhartruhari Mahtab appointed Pro-Tem Speaker of Lok Sabha

President Droupadi Murmu was appointed Bhartruhari Mahtab who served as a seven-term MP from Cuttack, as the pro tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha under Article 95(1) of the Constitution, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed on 20th June 2024.

Bhartruhari Mahtab, 66, had quit the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party recently and got a ticket from the BJP in the recent 18th Lok Sabha elections from Cuttack in Odisha is a constituency he has represented six times for the BJD now for the 7th time for the BJP.

The speaker for the 18th Lok Sabha will be elected in its first session. Until this happens, a pro-tem Speaker will be chosen to swear in the new Members of Parliament.

Who is Pro-Tem Speaker?

The pro-tem speaker is the senior-most member chosen by the governor or president of India after elections. This temporary role helps newly elected MLAs carry out various functions. The pro-tem speaker also follows directions from the Supreme Court or high courts. Before the new elected members start their session, the pro-tem speaker must step down. Selection is based on experience and age.

• The pro-tem Speaker is a temporary presiding officer in the Lok Sabha until the regular Speaker is elected. The term ‘pro-tem’ means ‘for the time being’ or ‘temporarily’.
• The primary role of the pro-tem Speaker is to administer the oath to new Members of Parliament (MPs) and facilitate the election of the new Speaker.
• According to Article 95(1), a pro-tem speaker is appointed for a brief period to preside over the proceedings of the Lower House of Parliament (Lok Sabha) following the General Elections.

The Pro-Tem Speaker is an important topic of Indian Polity which is an important subject in the UPSC Syllabus. Candidates can also go for the UPSC Mock Test to get more accuracy in their preparations.

First Pro-tem Speaker

The pro-tem speaker manages the work of Parliament and helps coordinate between MLAs from different parties in the Lok Sabha. Also known as the presiding officer, this role is the highest in the Lok Sabha. The first pro-tem speaker, appointed in 1952 under Article 93 of the Indian Constitution, was Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar. He served from 1952 to 1956 and was appointed by the President of the Constituent Assembly.

List of Pro-tem Speakers

Below are the list of Pro-tem Speakers from 2004 to 2024:

Selection of Pro-Tem Speaker

The President of India or the Governor appoints the Speaker Pro-tem and administers their oath of office. Usually, the senior-most member is chosen with the agreement of assembly members to manage activities until a permanent speaker is elected.

Duties include:

• Leading the first session of the Lok Sabha or State Assemblies.
• Swearing in newly elected MPs or MLAs.
• Conducting a floor test to confirm the government’s majority.
• Overseeing the vote to elect the speaker and deputy speaker.

Pro-Tem Speaker Appointment

The President/Governor appoints the pro-tem speaker to preside over meetings of the freshly elected house. The most senior member of the house is typically the pro-tem speaker. Pro-Tem speakers play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth transition and the establishment of a new legislative body. Their neutrality and experience are essential for upholding decorum and conducting the initial proceedings efficiently.

Pro-Tem Speaker Role and Responsibilities

The first Lok Sabha session is presided over by the Pro-tem Speaker, who also swears in the newly elected MPs. The pro tem speaker’s responsibility is to oversee the speaker and deputy speaker elections. The pro tem speaker’s position is abolished with the election of a new Speaker. Additionally, he conducts the floor test.

• Presiding over Initial Sessions: The pro-tem speaker oversees the first meeting of the newly elected house until a permanent speaker is elected.
• Administering Oath of Office: They administer the oath of office to newly elected members.
• Conducting Speaker and Deputy Speaker Elections: They facilitate the election process for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
• Maintaining Order and Decorum: Ensuring smooth proceedings and upholding decorum in the house during the initial session.
• Additional Duties: Depending on the specific rules and procedures of the legislative body, the pro-tem speaker may have additional responsibilities.

Swearing-in Ceremony

• Procedure: Following the President’s approval, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs informs the selected members about their appointments.
  • The President administers the oath to the pro-tem Speaker at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, while the pro-tem Speaker administers the oath to the other members in the Lok Sabha.
• Timing: The swearing-in of the pro-tem Speaker is typically scheduled at 9:30 am on the same day the Lok Sabha session starts at 11 am, subject to the President’s convenience.

Pro-Tem Speaker UPSC

The pro-tem speaker shares all of the Speaker’s rights and privileges. Therefore, the experts argue that to avoid tarnishing the reputation of democracy, there needs to be more clarity regarding the choice of the pro-tem speaker.  A speaker who is chosen on a temporary basis is known as a pro tem Speaker. Just prior to the first meeting of the newly elected house, the Lok Sabha’s or legislative assembly’s Speaker steps down, forcing the appointment of a pro-tem speaker. Students can read all the details related to UPSC by visiting the official website of StudyIQ UPSC Online Coaching.

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