Constitutional Basis
The office of the Deputy Speaker is provided under Article 93 of the Constitution of India, which mandates that the Lok Sabha shall choose two members to be respectively the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.
The Deputy Speaker acts as the second presiding authority of the Lok Sabha.
Election and Tenure
Election
- The Deputy Speaker is elected by the members of the Lok Sabha from among themselves.
- The date of election is fixed by the Speaker.
- By parliamentary convention, the post is often offered to a member of the Opposition, though this is not constitutionally mandated.
Tenure
- The Deputy Speaker remains in office until immediately before the first meeting of the next Lok Sabha.
- May resign by writing to the Speaker.
- May be removed by a resolution passed by an effective majority of the House (Article 94).
- A minimum of 14 days’ notice is required for a removal motion.
Powers and Functions
Presiding Role
- Presides over the House in the absence of the Speaker.
- Exercises all powers of the Speaker while presiding.
- Maintains order and ensures adherence to rules of procedure.
Administrative Role
- Assists in managing House business.
- May be a member of certain parliamentary committees.
Voting
- Like the Speaker, when presiding, does not vote in the first instance.
- Has a casting vote in case of a tie.
Significance
- Ensures continuity in parliamentary proceedings.
- Strengthens institutional stability of the Lok Sabha.
- Symbolizes cooperative functioning between ruling and opposition parties when chosen by consensus.
Challenges
- Delay in election of the Deputy Speaker in some Lok Sabhas has raised constitutional and political concerns.
- The absence of a Deputy Speaker may affect procedural efficiency during the Speaker’s absence.
Conclusion
The Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha plays a crucial role in maintaining the continuity and smooth functioning of parliamentary proceedings. Although subordinate to the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker exercises identical authority while presiding and contributes to the stability and balance of India’s parliamentary democracy.
