Role of the Speaker

The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. They are elected by the members of the House. Article 93 of the Constitution provides for the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, while Article 178 deals with the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly.

The key provisions related to the Role of the Speaker are: * The Speaker presides over the sittings of the House and conducts its business according to the rules. * The Speaker maintains order and decorum in the House and can direct a member to withdraw from the House for disorderly conduct. * The Speaker decides on the admissibility of questions, resolutions, and motions. * The Speaker has the power to adjourn the House or suspend its sitting in case of grave disorder. * The Speaker certifies whether a bill is a Money Bill, and this decision is final.

The office of the Speaker has evolved from its roots in the British parliamentary system. Initially, Speakers often maintained their political affiliations. However, there has been a growing convention for the Speaker to remain more independent and impartial. The first Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly was Sir Frederick Whyte in 1921, and the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha after independence was G.V. Mavalankar in 1952.

In the UPSC exam, questions are frequently asked about the Speaker's powers, functions, and impartiality. In Prelims, factual questions about relevant Articles (93, 178) and the Tenth Schedule are common. In Mains, analytical questions about the Speaker's role in maintaining parliamentary democracy and dealing with defections are often asked.

In practice, the Speaker presides over the House, ensuring debates are conducted according to the Rules of Procedure. They recognize members to speak, maintain order, and put questions to vote. The Speaker's decision on points of order is final. The Speaker also chairs various committees of the House.

One limitation is the Speaker's perceived lack of impartiality, especially when they are seen as aligned with the ruling party. Delays in deciding disqualification petitions, as highlighted by the Supreme Court in the Telangana case in 2024, also pose a significant limitation. The Speaker's discretionary powers under the anti-defection law have also been criticized.

The Speaker is the guardian of the rights and privileges of the members and the House. They maintain order and decorum, ensuring that debates are conducted fairly. The Speaker's role is crucial for the smooth functioning of parliamentary democracy. They represent the House in its dealings with other bodies, upholding its dignity and authority.

Challenges include maintaining impartiality, especially when the Speaker is perceived to be aligned with the ruling party. Delays in deciding disqualification petitions and criticisms of discretionary powers under the anti-defection law also pose significant challenges. Ensuring that the Speaker's office remains independent and respected is an ongoing challenge.

Some committees have suggested reforms to the anti-defection law to limit the Speaker's discretionary powers and ensure faster decisions on disqualification petitions. There are also suggestions for establishing a more transparent and independent process for electing the Speaker to enhance impartiality.

The Speaker is the presiding officer of the House, while the Deputy Speaker performs the functions of the Speaker in their absence. The Deputy Speaker is also elected by the members of the House. The Deputy Speaker does not have the power to certify a bill as a Money Bill; this power rests solely with the Speaker.

A common misconception is that the Speaker is merely a government representative. While the Speaker is often elected from the ruling party, their role requires impartiality and fairness in conducting House proceedings. Another misconception is that the Speaker has unlimited powers; their powers are defined by the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure.

Article 93 of the Constitution provides for the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Article 178 deals with the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly. Article 110 defines Money Bills, the certification of which is the Speaker's prerogative.