Speaker of the Lok Sabha

The Office of the Speaker occupies a pivotal position in our parliamentary Democracy. It has been said of the Office of the Speaker that while the members of Parliament represent the individual constituencies, the Speaker represents the full authority of the House itself. He symbolises the dignity and power of the House over which he is presiding. Therefore, it is expected that the holder of this Office of high dignity has to be one who can represent the House in all its manifestations. The responsibility entrusted to the Speaker is so onerous that he cannot afford to overlook any aspect of parliamentary life. His actions come under close scrutiny in the House and are also widely reported in the mass media. With the televising of proceedings of Parliament, the small screen brings to millions of households in the country the day-to-day developments in the House, making the Speaker’s task all the more important.

Even though the Speaker speaks rarely in the House, when he does, he speaks for the House as a whole. The Speaker is looked upon as the true guardian of the traditions of parliamentary democracy. His unique position is illustrated by the fact that he is placed very high in the Warrant of Precedence in our country, standing next only to the President, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister. In India, through the Constitution of the land, through the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha and through the practices and conventions, adequate powers are vested in the Office of the Speaker to help him in the smooth conduct of the parliamentary proceedings and for protecting the independence and impartiality of the Office. The Constitution of India provides that the Speaker’s salary and allowances are not to be voted by Parliament and are to be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.

Term of Office

Speaker holds Office from the date of his election till immediately before the first meeting of the Lok Sabha after the Dissolution of the one to which he was elected. He is eligible for re-election. On the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, although the Speaker ceases to be a member of the House, he does not vacate his Office. The Speaker may, at any time, resign from Office by writing under his hand to the Deputy Speaker. The Speaker can be removed from Office only on a resolution of the House passed by a majority of all the then members of the House. Such a resolution has to satisfy some conditions like: it should be specific with respect to the charges and it should not contain arguments, inferences, ironical expressions, imputations or defamatory statements, etc. Not only these, discussions should be confined to charges referred to in the resolution. It is also mandatory to give a minimum of 14 days’ notice of the intention to move the resolution.

Election of Speaker

In the Lok Sabha, the lower House of the Indian Parliament, both Presiding Officersâ€”the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker- are elected from among its members by a Simple Majority of members present and voting in the House. As such, no specific qualifications are prescribed for being elected the Speaker. The Constitution only requires that Speaker should be a member of the House. But an understanding of the Constitution and the laws of the country and the rules of procedure and conventions of Parliament is considered a major asset for the holder of the Office of the Speaker. The election of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is an important event in the life of the House. One of the first acts of a newly constituted House is to elect the Speaker. Usually, a member belonging to the ruling party is elected the Speaker.

A healthy convention, however, has evolved over the years whereby the ruling party nominates its candidate after informal consultations with the Leaders of other Parties and Groups in the House. This convention ensures that once elected, the Speaker enjoys the respect of all sections of the House. There are also instances when members not belonging to the ruling party or coalition were elected to the Office of the Speaker. Once a decision on the candidate is taken, his name is normally proposed by the Prime Minister or the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. If more than one notice is received, these are entered in the order of receipt. The Speaker Pro Tem presides over the sitting in which the Speaker is elected, if it is a newly constituted House. If the election falls later in the life of a Lok Sabha, the Deputy Speaker presides. The motions which are moved and duly seconded are put one by one in the order in which they are moved, and decided, if necessary, by division. If any motion is carried, the person presiding shall, without putting the latter motions, declare that the member proposed in the motion which has been carried has been chosen as the Speaker of the House. After the results are announced, the Speaker-elect is conducted to the Chair by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. He is then felicitated by Leaders of all Political Parties and Groups in the House to which he replies in a thanks-giving speech. And from then the new Speaker takes over.

Speaker in the Chair

In the Lok Sabha Chamber, the Speaker’s Chair is distinctively placed and, from his seat, he gets a commanding view of the entire House. Insofar as the proceedings are concerned, he is guided by the provisions of the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. He also benefits from the Directions issued by his predecessors which are compiled periodically. Besides, he is assisted by the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha and senior officers of the Secretariat on parliamentary activities and on matters of practice and procedure. In the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker discharges his functions. A member from the Panel of Chairmen presides over the House in the absence of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.

The Speaker has extensive functions to perform in matters administrative, judicial and regulatory, falling under his domain. He enjoys vast authority under the Constitution and the Rules, as well as inherently. As the conventional head of the Lok Sabha and as its principal spokesman, the Speaker represents its collective voice. Of course, he is the ultimate arbiter and interpreter of those provisions which relate to the functioning of the House. His decisions are final and binding and ordinarily cannot be questioned, challenged or criticised.

Speaker’s Administrative Role

The Speaker is the head of the Lok Sabha Secretariat which functions under his ultimate control and direction. The Speaker’s authority over the Secretariat staff of the House, its precincts and its security arrangements is supreme. All strangers, visitors and press correspondents are subject to his discipline and orders and any breach of order may be punished by means of exclusion from the precincts of the Parliament House or stoppage of admission tickets to the galleries for definite or indefinite period, or in more serious cases, dealt with as a contempt or Breach of Privilege. No alternation or addition can be made in the Parliament House and no new structure can be erected in the Parliament Estate without the Speaker’s permission.,

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Indian Parliament. The Speaker is elected from among the members of the Lok Sabha and is responsible for maintaining order in the House and ensuring that the proceedings are conducted in a fair and impartial manner. The Speaker also has the power to decide on matters of procedure and to rule on points of order.

The Speaker is elected by the members of the Lok Sabha at the beginning of each parliamentary session. The election is held by secret ballot and the candidate who receives a majority of the votes is elected Speaker. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a second round of voting is held between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round. The candidate who receives a majority of the votes in the second round is elected Speaker.

The Speaker must be a member of the Lok Sabha and must be qualified to be a member of Parliament. The qualifications for Membership Of Parliament are set out in the Constitution of India. The Speaker must also be a person of Integrity and impartiality.

The Speaker has a number of powers and functions. The Speaker is responsible for maintaining order in the House and ensuring that the proceedings are conducted in a fair and impartial manner. The Speaker also has the power to decide on matters of procedure and to rule on points of order. The Speaker also has the power to adjourn the House, to suspend or expel members from the House, and to refer matters to the Privileges Committee.

The Speaker can be removed from office by a resolution passed by a majority of the members of the Lok Sabha. The resolution must be moved by a member of the Lok Sabha and must be supported by at least 100 members of the House. The Speaker cannot vote on the resolution.

The Speaker is paid a salary and allowances that are determined by the President of India. The Speaker is also entitled to a number of other benefits, such as a house, a car, and medical facilities.

The Speaker enjoys a number of immunities. The Speaker cannot be sued in any court for anything that is said or done in the course of their duties. The Speaker also cannot be arrested or detained without the permission of the President of India.

The Office of the Speaker is located in the Parliament House in New Delhi. The Office is responsible for providing administrative support to the Speaker and for carrying out the functions of the Speaker.

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a very important position in the Indian government. The Speaker is responsible for presiding over the proceedings of the Lok Sabha and for ensuring that the House functions in a fair and impartial manner. The Speaker also has a number of other powers and functions, including the power to remove members from the House and to refer matters to the Privileges Committee. The Speaker is a very important figure in the Indian Parliament and plays a vital role in the functioning of the government.

What is the Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India. The Speaker is elected by the members of the Lok Sabha and is responsible for maintaining order in the House and ensuring that the proceedings are conducted in a fair and impartial manner.

What are the qualifications for the post of Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

A person can be elected as Speaker of the Lok Sabha if they are a citizen of India, are at least 35 years old, and are qualified to be elected as a member of the Lok Sabha.

What are the powers and functions of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha has a number of powers and functions, including:

Presiding over the proceedings of the Lok Sabha
Maintaining order in the House
Ensuring that the proceedings are conducted in a fair and impartial manner
Administering oaths to members of the Lok Sabha
Appointing members to various committees of the Lok Sabha
Deciding on the admissibility of motions and amendments
Ruling on points of order
Dismissing members of the Lok Sabha

What is the term of office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha holds office until the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

What happens if the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is unable to discharge their duties?

If the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is unable to discharge their duties, the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha will act as Speaker.

What is the salary of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

The salary of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is Rs. 1,25,000 per month.

What are the perks and privileges of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is entitled to a number of perks and privileges, including:

A furnished house in New Delhi
A car with driver
A telephone allowance
A medical allowance
A travel allowance
A constituency allowance
A secretarial allowance
A security allowance

What are the criticisms of the office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

The office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha has been criticized for being too powerful and for not being impartial. Some critics have also argued that the Speaker should be elected by the people, rather than by the members of the Lok Sabha.

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India. The Speaker is elected by the members of the Lok Sabha. The current Speaker of the Lok Sabha is Om Birla.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is responsible for maintaining order in the House and ensuring that the proceedings of the House are conducted in a fair and impartial manner. The Speaker also has the power to decide on the admissibility of motions and amendments, and to rule on points of order.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a member of the ruling party or coalition in the House. The Speaker is not a member of any political party while in office.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a constitutional office. The Speaker is appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha holds office during the pleasure of the President. The Speaker can be removed from office by a resolution passed by a majority of the members of the Lok Sabha.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the second-highest-ranking official in the Indian government, after the President. The Speaker is also the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha has the power to adjourn the House, to suspend or expel members from the House, and to refer matters to the Privileges Committee.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is also the presiding officer of joint sessions of the Parliament of India.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a powerful and influential figure in Indian politics. The Speaker has the power to shape the agenda of the House and to influence the course of legislation.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a respected and impartial figure. The Speaker is expected to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House.

Here are some MCQs without mentioning the topic Speaker of the Lok Sabha:

The presiding officer of the Lok Sabha is:
(a) The Prime Minister
(b) The President
(c) The Speaker
(d) The Vice President
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected by:
(a) The members of the Lok Sabha
(b) The members of the Rajya Sabha
(c) The members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
(d) The President
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is responsible for:
(a) Maintaining order in the House
(b) Ensuring that the proceedings of the House are conducted in a fair and impartial manner
(c) Deciding on the admissibility of motions and amendments
(d) All of the above
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a member of:
(a) The ruling party or coalition in the House
(b) The opposition party
(c) An independent
(d) None of the above
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a constitutional office. The Speaker is appointed by:
(a) The President of India
(b) The Prime Minister
(c) The Justice-of-india/”>Chief Justice of India
(d) The Speaker of the Rajya Sabha
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha holds office during the pleasure of:
(a) The President of India
(b) The Prime Minister
(c) The Chief Justice of India
(d) The Speaker of the Rajya Sabha
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the second-highest-ranking official in the Indian government, after the:
(a) President
(b) Prime Minister
(c) Chief Justice of India
(d) Speaker of the Rajya Sabha
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha has the power to:
(a) Adjourn the House
(b) Suspend or expel members from the House
(c) Refer matters to the Privileges Committee
(d) All of the above
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is also the presiding officer of joint sessions of the Parliament of India.
(a) True
(b) False
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a powerful and influential figure in Indian politics.
(a) True
(b) False