Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Polity
Source: TH
Context: The 18th Lok Sabha, like the 17th, has not yet elected a Deputy Speaker, raising concerns about constitutional compliance and parliamentary conventions.
About Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha:
• Constitutional Article: Governed by Article 93 of the Constitution: mandates the House to elect a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker “as soon as may be”.
• Selection: Elected by: Lok Sabha members from among themselves. Timing: After the Speaker’s election, the date is fixed by the Speaker. Convention: Deputy Speaker is usually from the Opposition, though not legally mandated.
• Elected by: Lok Sabha members from among themselves.
• Timing: After the Speaker’s election, the date is fixed by the Speaker.
• Convention: Deputy Speaker is usually from the Opposition, though not legally mandated.
• Powers and Functions: Presiding Role: Acts as Speaker when the latter is absent. Casting Vote: Exercises casting vote only in case of a tie when presiding. Committee Chairmanship: Automatically becomes chairperson of any parliamentary committee if appointed. Independence: Is not subordinate to the Speaker but directly responsible to the Lok Sabha.
• Presiding Role: Acts as Speaker when the latter is absent.
• Casting Vote: Exercises casting vote only in case of a tie when presiding.
• Committee Chairmanship: Automatically becomes chairperson of any parliamentary committee if appointed.
• Independence: Is not subordinate to the Speaker but directly responsible to the Lok Sabha.
Relevance of Deputy Speaker:
• Continuity of Proceedings: Ensures that House proceedings are never disrupted due to the Speaker’s absence.
• Institutional Neutrality: Upholds impartiality and balances legislative debates (S.C. Kashyap: Speaker cannot preside continuously without relief).
• Symbol of Bipartisanship: Historical practice of appointing Deputy Speaker from Opposition fosters cross-party cooperation and trust.
• Crisis Management: Acts decisively during emergencies like sudden Speaker vacancies.
E.g., M.A. Ayyangar acted after G.V. Mavalankar’s death in 1956.
Impact of Vacuum in Deputy Speaker’s Office:
• Weakens Institutional Continuity: In the Speaker’s absence, no designated authority leads to procedural disruptions and undermines smooth functioning of the Lok Sabha.
• Concentration of Procedural Power: Power centralizes in the Speaker alone, reducing checks and diluting the balance envisioned in parliamentary democracy.
• Erosion of Democratic Conventions: Ignoring the tradition of appointing a Deputy Speaker (often from Opposition) reduces bipartisan cooperation and trust in parliamentary processes.
• Risk During Emergencies: In events like sudden resignation, death, or removal of the Speaker, absence of a Deputy Speaker could trigger a leadership crisis, stalling legislative business.
Legislative Reform Needed:
• Fix a Time Frame: Amend Article 93 to mandate Deputy Speaker’s election within 60 days of first sitting.
• Trigger Mechanism: Allow the President, upon Cabinet advice, to initiate the election process if delayed.
• Strengthen Opposition Representation: Enforce conventions offering the post to an Opposition member to promote inclusivity and trust.
• Statutory Clarifications: Codify the roles and election timeline by amending the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
Conclusion:
The Office of the Deputy Speaker is not a ceremonial redundancy but a constitutional necessity for ensuring balance and resilience in Parliament. Prolonged vacancy weakens democratic processes and compromises institutional integrity. Timely election of the Deputy Speaker is essential for upholding constitutional democracy and restoring credibility in legislative functioning.
• “Once a speaker, always a speaker’ Do you think the practice should be adopted to impart objectivity to the office of the Speaker of Lok Sabha? What could be its implications for the robust functioning of parliamentary business in India? (2020)