Deputy Speaker

Context: The present Lok Sabha and five state Assemblies have not elected Deputy Speakers.

About Office of Deputy Speaker:

• Article 93 of the Constitution provides for the election of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
• Article 178 contains the corresponding position for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of a state.

Elected By:

• Lok Sabha from amongst its members right after the election of the Speaker has taken place.
• The date of election of the Deputy Speaker is fixed by the Speaker
• The institutions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker originated in India in 1921 under the provisions of the Government of India Act of 1919 (Montague-Chelmsford Reforms).

Term of Office and Removal:

• Like the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker remains in office usually during the life of the Lok Sabha (5 years).
• Deputy Speaker may vacate his/her office earlier in any of the following three cases
  • If he ceases to be a member of the Lok Sabha.
  • If he resigns by writing to the Speaker.
  • If he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the Lok Sabha.

Responsibilities and Powers (Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha):

• Article 95 of the constitution, the Deputy Speaker performs the duties of the Speaker’s office when it is vacant.
• Special privilege, that is, whenever he/she is appointed as a member of a parliamentary committee, he/she automatically becomes its chairman.

Deputy Speaker and Tenth Schedule (Exception):

• Para 5 of the Tenth Schedule (commonly known as the anti-defection law) says that a person who has been elected Speaker/ Deputy Speaker shall not be disqualified:
  • Voluntarily gives up the membership of the political party

Previous Year Questions

Q.1)  With reference to Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, consider the following statements:

1. As per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, the election of Deputy Speaker shall be held on such date as the Speaker may fix.
2. There is a mandatory provision that the election of a candidate as Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha shall be from either the principal opposition party or the ruling party.
3. The Deputy Speaker has the same power as of the Speaker when presiding over the sitting of the House and no appeal lies against his rulings.
4. The well-established parliamentary practice regarding the appointment of Deputy Speaker is that the motion is moved by the Speaker and duly seconded by the Prime Minister.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 1, 2 and 3
3. 3 and 4 only
4. 2 and 4 only