Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Post	Speaker
Body	the Lok Sabha
Insigniacaption	Emblem of India
Incumbent	Om Birla
Incumbentsince	19 June 2019
Department	Lok Sabha
Style	Honourable Speaker, (The Honourable)
Member of	Lok Sabha
Reports to	Parliament of India
Seat	New Delhi
Nominator	Members of Parliament
Appointer	Elected by the Lok Sabha
Termlength	During the life of the Lok Sabha
Constituting instrument	Constitution of India
Formation	15 May 1952
First	Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar
Salary	₹1,25,000 (US$1,700) monthly
Website	[https://sansad.in/ls/speaker Speaker of the Lok Sabha]

Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the presiding officer and highest authority of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India. Elected from among its Members of Parliament, the Speaker is responsible for maintaining order, conducting proceedings, and interpreting the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. The office is a cornerstone of Parliamentary democracy in India, ensuring the smooth functioning of the house and upholding its dignity and rights.

Role and powers

The Speaker presides over the sittings of the Lok Sabha, ensuring adherence to the Constitution of India and parliamentary rules. Key powers include certifying Money bills, deciding on matters of Parliamentary privilege, and chairing joint sittings of both houses called by the President of India. The Speaker appoints chairs for various Parliamentary committees in India like the Public Accounts Committee and exercises decisive votes during divisions. They also oversee the general administration of the Lok Sabha Secretariat and represent the house in its relations with the Rajya Sabha, the Supreme Court of India, and foreign legislatures such as the British Parliament.

Election and tenure

The Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from among its members, usually in the first session after a general election. The election is conducted by the President-pro-tem, a senior member appointed for administering oaths. While typically a member of the ruling party or coalition, the Speaker is expected to conduct duties impartially. The tenure corresponds with the life of the Lok Sabha, unless they resign, cease to be a Member of Parliament, or are removed by a resolution passed by an absolute majority, as outlined in Article 94 of the Constitution of India.

List of Speakers

Since the first Lok Sabha in 1952, there have been 18 Speakers. The inaugural Speaker was Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar, often called the "Father of the Lok Sabha". The longest-serving was Balram Jakhar, who presided for nearly a decade over the 8th Lok Sabha and 9th Lok Sabha. The first woman to hold the office was Meira Kumar, elected after the 2009 Indian general election. The current Speaker, Om Birla, was elected unanimously following the 2019 Indian general election and represents the Bharatiya Janata Party from Kota, Rajasthan.

Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is also elected by the house and performs the Speaker's duties in their absence. The position is traditionally offered to the opposition or a different party to ensure balance, as seen with figures like M. Thambidurai of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The Deputy Speaker also chairs important committees and can act as Speaker if the office falls vacant, pending a new election, a provision tested during the tenure of G. M. C. Balayogi.

Historical development

The office derives from the Speaker of the British House of Commons, with its traditions adapted for India through the Government of India Act 1919 and the Government of India Act 1935. The first Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly was Vithalbhai Patel. The role was constitutionally formalized in 1950, with Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar continuing from the Constituent Assembly of India to become the first Speaker of the provisional parliament and then the first Lok Sabha.

Significance and controversies

The Speaker's role is vital for upholding Parliamentary democracy in India, acting as a neutral arbiter between the government and the opposition. However, the position has faced controversies, notably regarding the certification of Money bills in cases like the Aadhaar Act, which was challenged in the Supreme Court of India. Decisions on Disqualification of members under the Anti-Defection Law, such as during the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha case, have also sparked debate about political impartiality, echoing historical disputes from the tenure of Rabindra Ray.

Category:Lok Sabha Category:Chairs of lower houses Category:Political office-holders in India