Presiding Officers Of Parliament

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Presiding Officers Of Parliament

Each house of Parliament has its own presiding officers. Lok Sabha has a Speaker as its principal presiding officer and a Deputy Speaker to assist him and officiate as presiding officer in his absence. The Rajya Sabha is presided over by the Chairperson, assisted by a Deputy Chairperson. The latter performs all the duties and functions of the former in case of his/her absence.

The Speaker Of The Lok Sabha

Election and Tenure

The Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from amongst its members (as soon as may be after its first sitting ). Whenever the office of the Speaker falls vacant, the Lok Sabha elects, another member to fill the vacancy. The date of election of the Speaker is fixed by the president. Usually, the Speaker remains in office during the life of the Lok Sabhà.

However, he has to vacate his office earlier in any of the following three cases :

1. If he ceases to be a member of the Lok Sabha.

2. If he resigns by writing to the Deputy Speaker, and

3. If he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the members of the Lok Sabha. Such a resolution can be moved only after giving 14 days advance notice. It should be noted here that, whenever the Lok Sabha is dissolved, the Speaker does not vacate his office and continues till the newly elected Lok Sabha meets.

Role, Powers, And Functions

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha enjoys very wide and extensive powers. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha derives his powers and duties from three sources, i.e., the Constitution of India, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha, and Parliamentary Conventions. ( residuary powers that are unwritten or unspecified in the rules ).

  1. The Speaker presides over the sittings of the Lok Sabha and conducts the proceedings, maintains order and decorum in the House and decides points of order, interprets and applies rules of the House. The Speaker’s decision is final in all such matters.
  2. He authenticates that a bill has been passed by the House before it is presented to the President for assent.
  3. He certifies a bill as a money bill and his decision in this regard is final.
  4. The Speaker is the principal spokesperson of the House.
  5. Messages from the House and to the House are sent and received through the Speaker.
  6. The Speaker in consultation with the leader of the House determines the order of business.
  7. He decides on the admissibility of questions, motions and resolutions.
  8. He appoints the chairpersons of all the committees of the House.
  9. He is the guardian of the privileges of the members and of the House.
  10. The Speaker does not vote in the first instance but can exercise a casting vote.
  11. He adjourns the House or suspends the meeting in absence of a quorum.
  12. He presides over a joint setting of the two Houses of Parliament. Such a sitting is summoned by the president to settle a deadlock between the two Houses on a bill.
  13. He decides the questions of disqualification of a member of the Lok Sabha, arising on the ground of defection under the provisions of the Tenth Schedule.
  14. He exercises control over the Secretarial staff.
  15. He accepts all resignations sent to him by members of the House.
  16. He has, however, been empowered not to accept a resignation which he feels has been signed by a member under duress. The Speaker represents the whole House and it is on his impartiality that the success of parliamentary polity depends.

In this context, it is being asked whether it is desirable for a Speaker to maintain party affiliation. It is generally felt that it enhances the image of the office if he disassociates himself with the party to which he belongs. The Speaker’s conduct cannot be discussed in the house except in a substantive motion. His salary and allowances are charged to the Consolidated Fund of India so that the independent character of his office is maintained.

Check out the notes on deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha

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