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Speaker of the Lok Sabha

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Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabhā Adhyakṣa
Emblem of the Lok Sabha
Incumbent
Bhartruhari Mahtab
(pro tem)
since 20 June 2024
Lok Sabha
Style
  • Honourable (Inside India)
  • His/Her Excellency (Outside India)
StatusPresiding member of the Lok Sabha
Member ofLok Sabha
Reports toParliament of India
Residence20, Akbar Road, New Delhi, Delhi, India[1]
Seat16, Parliament House, Sansad Marg, New Delhi, Delhi, India
AppointerMembers of Parliament (Lok Sabha)
Term lengthDuring the life of the Lok Sabha (five years maximum)
Constituting instrumentArticle 93 of the Constitution of India
PrecursorPresident of the Constituent Assembly of India
Inaugural holderGanesh Vasudev Mavalankar (1952–1956)
Formation15 May 1952
DeputyDeputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Salary 450,000 (US$5,400)
(per month)
5,400,000 (US$65,000)
(annually)
Websitespeakerloksabha.nic.in

The speaker of the Lok Sabha (IAST: Lok Sabhā Adhyakṣa) is the presiding officer and the highest authority of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India.[2] The speaker is elected generally in the first meeting of the Lok Sabha following general elections. He does not enjoy a security of tenure and his term is subjected to the pleasure of the house i.e. can be removed anytime by a resolution of the Lok Sabha by a majority of the all the then members of the house. [3] The longest-serving speaker was Balram Jakhar, whose tenure lasted 9 years and 329 days.

Election of the speaker[edit]

Newly elected Members of Parliament from the Lok Sabha elect the Speaker among themselves. The Speaker should be someone who understands how the Lok Sabha functions and he/she should be someone accepted among the ruling and opposition parties.

After the general elections, the President of India notifies the first meeting of the Lok Sabha as well as the date for the election of the Speaker. Generally either on the day of the election of the Speaker of a day before it, the Prime Minister or the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs proposes the name of the candidate. Any other candidate may also submit their names however, util now, all elections of Lok Sabha speakers have been unanimous.[4][5] [6] If only one name is proposed, the Speaker is elected without any formal vote. However, if more than one nomination is received, a division (vote) is called. The successful candidate is elected as Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Powers and functions of the speaker[edit]

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha conducts the business in house, and decides whether a bill is a money bill or not. They maintain discipline and decorum in the house and can punish a member for unruly behaviour with respect to law after suspending them. They also permit the moving of various kinds of motions and resolutions such as a motion of no confidence, motion of adjournment, motion of censure and calling attention notice as per the rules. The Speaker decides on the agenda to be taken up for discussion during the meeting. The date of election of the Speaker is fixed by the President. Further, all comments and speeches made by members of the House are addressed to the Speaker. The Speaker also presides over the joint sitting of both houses of the Parliament of India. The counterpart of the Speaker in the Rajya Sabha (Council of the States) is its Chairperson; the Vice-President of India is the ex-officio chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. On the order of precedence, the Speaker of Lok Sabha ranks sixth, along with the Chief Justice of India. The Speaker is answerable to the House. Both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker may be removed by a resolution passed by the majority of the members. Lok Sabha Speaker can be elected by President on a nomination basis.

All bills passed requires the speaker's signature to go to the Rajya Sabha for its consideration. The Speaker also has a casting vote in the event of a tie. It is customary for the Presiding Officer to exercise the casting vote in such a manner as to maintain the status quo.[1]

Removal of the speaker[edit]

Speaker can be removed by the Lok Sabha by a resolution passed by the majority of all the then members of the house as per Constitution of India [Articles 94]. [7]

The Speaker is also removed on being disqualified for being Lok Sabha member under sections 7 and 8 of Representation of the People Act, 1951.[8] This would arise out of speaker's wrong certification of a bill as money bill inconsistent with the definition given in Articles 110 of the constitution.[9] When courts uphold the unconstitutional act of the speaker for wrong certification of a bill as money bill, it amounts to disrespecting the constitution deserving conviction under Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 which is applicable for disqualification of speaker's Lok Sabha membership under section 8K of Representation of the People Act, 1951. However, the omissions in the procedure committed by the speaker in the Lok Sabha can not be challenged in court of law per Article 122.[10]

Pro tem speaker[edit]

After a general election and formation of a new government, a list of senior Lok Sabha members prepared by the Legislative Section is submitted to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, who forwards the name to the President of India. The President of India appoints the Protem Speaker.[11] [12]

The first meeting after the election when the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are selected by members of the Parliament is held under the pro tem Speaker. In absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker acts as Speaker and in the absence of both a committee of six members selected by the Speaker will act as Speaker according to their seniority.

Eligiblilty for Speaker of the Lok Sabha include:

  • Being a citizen of India;
  • Not be less than 25 years of age;
  • Not holding any office of profit under the Government of India, or a state government; and
  • Not being a Criminal Offender.

List[edit]

No. Portrait Speaker
(Birth-Death)
Constituency Term of office Political party Lok Sabha Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
From To Period
14 Somnath Chatterjee
(1929–2018)
Bolpur 24 May
2004
3 August
2004
71 days Communist Party of India (Marxist) 14th
(2004)
Ghulam Nabi Azad
15 Manikrao Hodlya Gavit
(1934–2022)
Nandurbar 31 May
2009
4 June
2009
4 days Indian National Congress 15th
(2009)
Pawan Kumar Bansal
16 Kamal Nath
(born 1946)
Chhindwara 11 June
2014
15 June
2014
4 days 16th
(2014)
M. Venkaiah Naidu
17 Virendra Kumar Khatik
(born 1954)
Tikamgarh 17 June
2019
19 June
2019
2 days Bharatiya Janata Party 17th
(2019)
Pralhad Joshi
18 Bhartruhari Mahtab
(born 1957)
Cuttack 24 June 2024 26 June 2024 2 days Bharatiya Janata Party 18th
(2024)
Kiren Rijiju

List of speakers[edit]

Note:

Died in office
§ Resigned
No. Portrait Speaker
(Birth-Death)
Constituency Term of office Political party Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker
From To Period
1 G. V. Mavalankar
(1888–1956)
Ahmedabad 15 May
1952
27 February
1956[†]
3 years, 288 days Indian National Congress 1st
(1951–52)
M. A. Ayyangar
2 M. A. Ayyangar
(1891–1978)
Chittoor 8 March
1956
4 April
1957
6 years, 22 days Hukam Singh
5 April
1957
31 March
1962
2nd
(1957)
3 Hukam Singh
(1895–1983)
Patiala 17 April
1962
16 March
1967
4 years, 333 days 3rd
(1962)
S. V. Krishnamoorthy Rao
4 Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
(1913–1996)
Hindupur 17 March
1967
19 July
1969[§]
2 years, 124 days 4th
(1967)
Raghunath Keshav Khadilkar
5 Gurdial Singh Dhillon
(1915–1992)
Tarn Taran 8 August
1969
17 March
1971
6 years, 110 days Indian National Congress (R)
G. G. Swell
22 March
1971
1 December
1975[§]
5th
(1971)
6 Bali Ram Bhagat
(1922–2011)
Arrah 15 January
1976
25 March
1977
1 year, 69 days
(4) Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
(1913–1996)
Nandyal 26 March
1977
13 July
1977[§]
109 days Janata Party 6th
(1977)
Godey Murahari
7 K. S. Hegde
(1909–1990)
Bangalore South 21 July
1977
21 January
1980
2 years, 184 days
8 Balram Jakhar
(1923–2016)
Ferozpur 22 January
1980
15 January
1985
9 years, 329 days Indian National Congress (I) 7th
(1980)
G. Lakshmanan
Sikar 16 January
1985
18 December
1989
8th
(1984)
M. Thambidurai
9 Rabi Ray
(1926–2017)
Kendrapara 19 December
1989
9 July
1991
1 year, 202 days Janata Dal 9th
(1989)
Shivraj Patil
10 Shivraj Patil
(born 1935)
Latur 10 July
1991
22 May
1996
4 years, 317 days Indian National Congress (I) 10th
(1991)
S. Mallikarjunaiah
11 P. A. Sangma
(1947–2016)
Tura 23 May
1996
23 March
1998
1 year, 304 days Indian National Congress 11th
(1996)
Suraj Bhan
12 G. M. C. Balayogi
(1951–2002)
Amalapuram 24 March
1998
19 October
1999
3 years, 342 days Telugu Desam Party 12th
(1998)
P. M. Sayeed
22 October
1999
3 March
2002[†]
13th
(1999)
13 Manohar Joshi
(1937–2024)
Mumbai North Central 10 May
2002
2 June
2004
2 years, 23 days Shiv Sena
14 Somnath Chatterjee
(1929–2018)
Bolpur 4 June
2004
4 June
2009
5 years, 0 days Communist Party of India (Marxist) 14th
(2004)
Charanjit Singh Atwal
15 Meira Kumar
(born 1945)
Sasaram 4 June
2009
5 June
2014
5 years, 1 day Indian National Congress 15th
(2009)
Kariya Munda
16 Sumitra Mahajan
(born 1943)
Indore 6 June
2014
10 June
2019[13]
5 years, 4 days Bharatiya Janata Party 16th
(2014)
M. Thambidurai
17 Om Birla
(born 1962)
Kota 19 June
2019
5 June
2024[14]
5 years, 2 days 17th
(2019)
Vacant
18 TBD 26 June
2024[15]
18th
(2024)
TBD

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Members : Lok Sabha". 164.100.47.194. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  2. ^ "The Office of Speaker Lok Sabha". speakerloksabha.nic.in. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Vacation and Resignation of, and Removal from, the Offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker".
  4. ^ "Election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker and Nomination of Panel of Chairpersons" (PDF). 164.100.47.194. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  5. ^ "The Office of Speaker Lok Sabha". speakerloksabha.nic.in. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Lok Sabha Speaker elected without contest since Independence".
  7. ^ "Vacation and Resignation of, and Removal from, the Offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker".
  8. ^ "Sections 7 & 8k, Representation of the People Act, 1951" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Aadhaar Act as Money Bill: Why the Lok Sabha isn't Immune from Judicial Review". Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Interpretation of Article 122 by the Supreme Court". Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Who will be the pro-tem speaker of 18th Lok Sabha? What is the role in the inaugural session?".
  12. ^ Ashok, Akash Deep (4 June 2014). "Pro tem Speaker: All you need to know about this parliamentary post". India Today. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  13. ^ Hebbar, Nistula (5 April 2019). "Sumitra Mahajan says she will not contest, leaves it to BJP to decide on candidate for Indore seat". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  14. ^ https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/president-droupadi-murmu-orders-dissolving-of-17th-lok-sabha-rashtrapati-bhavan-communique/cid/2024870
  15. ^ https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/first-session-of-18th-lok-sabha-likely-to-commence-around-june-15-sources/articleshow/110805686.cms?from=mdr#

External links[edit]