Speaker of Lok Sabha, History, Election, Role, Duties & Removal

Speaker of Lok Sabha

The highest power in the Parliament’s lower house is held by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The lower house of the Indian Parliament is known as Lok Sabha, or the House of the People. In Article 93 of the Indian Constitution, the speaker of the Lok Sabha is referred to as the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha. Om Birla is the Lok Sabha’s current speaker. Since 2021, he has served as the lower house’s 17th speaker.

The Speaker of Lok Sabha is an important part of Indian Polity which an important subject in UPSC Syllabus. Students can also go for UPSC Mock Test to get more accuracy in their preparations.

Speaker of Lok Sabha History

The Speaker of Lok Sabha Lok Sabha history dates back to 1919. Much later, the phrases “Lok Sabha Speaker” and “Deputy Speaker” were introduced. Here is a brief overview of its past. The Indian constitution, parliamentary conventions, and the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Lok Sabha grant the Speaker of the Lok Sabha a number of powers.

The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, which followed the Government of India Act 1919, introduced the Speaker and Deputy Speaker institutions. Up until 1947, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were addressed by the President. The Central Legislative Assembly’s first speaker and deputy speaker were chosen to serve as Frederick Whyte and Sachidanand Sinha. In 1925, Vithalbhai J. Patel is credited as being the Central Legislative Assembly’s first Speaker.

After Independence, Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar served as Speaker from 15 May 1952 until 27 February 1956. In the Indian Parliament, Madabhushi Ananthasayanam Ayyangar held the positions of first Deputy Speaker and first Speaker of the Lok Sabha. All sessions in the Lower House of the Parliament are presided over by a Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Speaker of Lok Sabha and Article 93

The House of the People shall as soon as practicable elect two members to serve as its Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, in accordance with Article 93, which governs the speaker and deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha. The House shall, when necessary, elect a new member to fill each vacancy occurring in one of those places.

Speaker of Lok Sabha and Constitutional Provision

Speaker of Lok Sabha Election and Tenure

The Speaker and Deputy Speaker are both elected under Article 93 of the Indian Constitution. The Lok Sabha elects the Speaker from among its members, and when the position becomes vacant, the Lok Sabha elects a new member to fill it. The President sets the date for the Speaker election.

There are no requirements that must be met in order to become Speaker. The Constitution simply specifies that the Speaker must be a member of the House. But understanding the nation’s Constitution and laws, as well as the customs and traditions of Parliament, is thought to be a big benefit for the Speaker.

The Speaker is in office from the day of their election till the first Lok Sabha session that takes place after the one they were elected to. When the Lok Sabha is dissolved, the Speaker is no longer considered a member of the House.

Speaker of Lok Sabha Role

The Speaker serves as the Lok Sabha’s head, its representative, and the protector of the members’ rights and privileges as well as those of the entire body and its committees. As the main representative of the House, he or she has the final say on all matters pertaining to the Parliament.

The Constitution of India, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Lok Sabha, and Parliamentary Conventions (residual powers not expressly stated in the Rules) are the three sources from which the Speaker of the Lok Sabha gets his or her authority.

Speaker of Lok Sabha Power and Duties

The fundamental duty and ultimate authority in this matter is to keep the House in good order and decorum while it is doing business and governing its activities. He or she serves as the House’s final arbiter of how the provisions of the Indian Constitution, the Lok Sabha’s rules for conducting business, and parliamentary precedents should be interpreted. In the absence of a quorum, he or she adjourns the House or suspends the meeting. One-tenth of the House’s total membership must be present for a quorum to be present at a House meeting.

He or she does not cast a vote in the first round, but in the event of a tie, a casting vote may be used. Re-election is possible for the Speaker. He or she oversees a joint session of the two Houses of Parliament and, upon the Leader of the House’s request, may permit a private session of the House.  He or she makes the final determination of whether a bill is a money bill or not. The Speaker signs his certificate indicating a bill is a money bill when it is sent to the Rajya Sabha for recommendation and presented to the President for approval.

He or she makes decisions about a Lok Sabha member’s disqualification for defection under the terms of the Tenth Schedule. He or she serves as the ex-officio head of the Indian Parliamentary Group, a conduit between the Parliament of India and other parliamentary bodies throughout the world. He or she picks the leaders of all the Lok Sabha’s parliamentary committees, oversees their work, and serves as the head of the Business Advisory Committee, Rules Committee, and General Purpose Committee.

Speaker of Lok Sabha Removal

The Lower House members participate in and cast votes in a transparent process that names the Lok Sabha Speaker for a term of five years. A formal procedure can be followed to remove the Speaker of Lok Sabha from office if necessary due to unanticipated events. A Lok Sabha Speaker can be removed from office primarily in three ways.

Speaker removal will occur if a resolution is approved by the Lok Sabha’s members with an absolute majority in accordance with Articles 94 and 95 of the Constitution. A Lok Sabha Speaker may participate in the House’s deliberations over his or her removal and may cast a vote, but only in the first round. Only if there are an unequal number of votes for and against removal will the vote be permitted. He/she shall be removed from office if prohibited from holding office under Sections 7 and 8 of the Representation of the People Act of 1951.

Also Read: Parliamentary Privileges

Speaker of Lok Sabha and Pro Tem

When the Speaker of the outgoing Lok Sabha resigns right before the start of the newly elected Lok Sabha’s first session, the President names a member of the Lok Sabha as Speaker Pro Tem. A vacancy in the position of Speaker of the House. Usually, the most experienced member is selected for this role. The President administers the oath and possesses all of the Speaker’s power. He or she administers the oath to the newly elected House members. However, once the new Lok Sabha Speaker is selected, that person’s term expires.

Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha

After electing the Speaker, the Lok Sabha chooses the Deputy Speaker from among its members. Since the 11th Lok Sabha, the Speaker has set the date for the election of the Deputy Speaker. Before this, the dominant party elected both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. His/her compensation is charged to the Consolidated Fund of India and is determined by Parliament.

Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Power

A deputy speaker has the unique privilege of being able to lead a parliamentary or judicial committee as soon as they are appointed as a member of it. When the Speaker is not present, the Deputy Speaker preside over the combined session of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

Speaker of Lok Sabha List

Below given is the complete List of all the speaker of Lok Sabha after independence till date. Students can see the List to know all about the Speaker of Lok Sabha:

Speaker of Lok Sabha UPSC

The Lok Sabha Speaker’s Office is a crucial component of our Indian Constitution’s system of government. So, it plays a significant role in the UPSC Exam. The House is represented by the Speaker. Because the House stands in for the whole country, he or she represents the dignity and freedom of the House. The Speaker thus has a special significance for the freedom and liberty of the country. It is therefore appropriate that it be an honored post, a free position, and that it be consistently held by men of exceptional competence and impartiality. Students can read all the details related to UPSC by visiting the official website of StudyIQ UPSC Online Coaching.

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