Which one of the following Constitutional Amendments has enormously strengthened the powers of the Speaker/Chairman of the Houses of the Parliament/State Legislatures?
[amp_mcq option1=”61st Amendment which reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years” option2=”Anti-defection provisions of 52nd Amendment” option3=”Repealing of many of the provisions of 42nd Amendment by 44th Amendment” option4=”73rd Amendment that conferred extensive powers on Panchayat Bodies” correct=”option2″]
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2018
The correct answer is B) Anti-defection provisions of 52nd Amendment.
The 52nd Amendment Act, 1985, introduced the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution, popularly known as the Anti-defection Law. This law lays down the provisions for disqualification of Members of Parliament and State Legislatures on the grounds of defection. The power to decide on the disqualification of a member under this law rests with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (or the Speaker/Chairman of the State Legislature). This vested significant power in the hands of the presiding officers concerning the membership status of elected representatives, thus strengthening their position.