{"id":32839,"date":"2025-05-29T11:41:47","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T06:11:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=32839"},"modified":"2025-05-29T12:31:19","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T07:01:19","slug":"office-of-deputy-speaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/office-of-deputy-speaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the Deputy Speaker Matters: Constitutional Role, Powers &#038; the Vacancy Debate"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Latest News<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The Deputy Speaker&#8217;s post has remained vacant for six years, raising concerns about constitutional compliance and democratic strength.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>In a parliamentary democracy, this role is not merely ceremonial but crucial for ensuring accountability, smooth functioning, and balanced power-sharing between the ruling party and the Opposition.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The prolonged vacancy, reportedly due to the ruling government&#8217;s reluctance to offer the position to an Opposition member, undermines the principle of power-sharing and democratic conventions, which hold significance even in the absence of explicit legal provisions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Election and Tenure of the Deputy Speaker<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Under\u00a0<strong>Article 93<\/strong>\u00a0of the Constitution, the Lok Sabha must elect a Speaker and Deputy Speaker from among its members \u201cas soon as may be,\u201d though no specific timeline is given.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Article 94<\/strong>\u00a0ensures that the Deputy Speaker remains in office until resignation, removal, or disqualification, underlining the role&#8217;s continuity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Election Process<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The date of the Deputy Speaker\u2019s election is fixed by the Speaker and communicated to members through a parliamentary bulletin.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The election is conducted via a ballot paper vote.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Tenure and Removal<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The Deputy Speaker remains in office until the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, unless removed earlier by a resolution passed by a majority of members.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The position is also vacated if the Deputy Speaker ceases to be a Member of Parliament.<\/li>\n<li>If the Deputy Speaker\u2019s seat falls vacant, the members of the House may elect a new Deputy Speaker.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Position in Order of Precedence<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>In the official hierarchy, the Deputy Speaker ranks tenth, alongside the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Union Ministers of State, and members of the Planning Commission.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Powers, Functions, and Privileges of the Deputy Speaker<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The Deputy Speaker assists the Speaker in managing the functioning of the Lok Sabha.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>In the Speaker&#8217;s absence or when the post is vacant, the Deputy Speaker presides over proceedings and performs all associated duties.<\/li>\n<li>If nominated to any legislative committee, the Deputy Speaker automatically assumes the role of its chairman.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Participation in Debates and Voting<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlike the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can participate in debates and vote on matters as an ordinary member when the Speaker is presiding.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>When presiding over the House, the Deputy Speaker may only cast a vote in the event of a tie.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Conventions and Financial Independence<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>By convention, the Deputy Speaker, like the Speaker, does not sponsor Bills or resolutions, nor does he raise questions.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>His salary is drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India and is not subject to parliamentary approval.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Constitutional Authority under Articles 95 and 96<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Article 95 empowers the Deputy Speaker to maintain order, discipline, and adjourn proceedings in the Speaker\u2019s absence.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Under Article 96, when a motion to remove the Deputy Speaker is under debate (with a 14-day advance notice), he cannot preside but is allowed to vote\u2014though not to cast the deciding vote in case of a tie.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Parliamentary Convention<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>While the Speaker is traditionally from the ruling party, the Deputy Speaker&#8217;s post has conventionally been offered to a member of the Opposition.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>This informal practice aims to foster cooperation and maintain balance in the parliamentary process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Prolonged Vacancy of the Deputy Speaker<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Absence in Successive Lok Sabhas<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The Government did not appoint a Deputy Speaker during the 17th Lok Sabha (2019\u20132024), and indications suggest a similar approach for the 18th Lok Sabha.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>This ongoing vacancy reflects a failure to reach consensus between the ruling party and the Opposition, reportedly due to the government&#8217;s reluctance to offer the post to the Opposition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Constitutional and Procedural Violations<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The prolonged vacancy undermines several constitutional provisions\u2014Articles 93, 94, and 180.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Additionally, it violates\u00a0<strong>Rule 8 of the Lok Sabha\u2019s Rules of Procedure<\/strong>\u00a0(1952), which states that the election shall be held on a date fixed by the Speaker following a formal motion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Constitutional Implications of the Deputy Speaker&#8217;s Vacancy<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Misinterpretation of Article 93<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Although Article 93 mandates the election of a Deputy Speaker \u201cas soon as may be,\u201d the absence of a fixed timeline has led to prolonged delays.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>This undermines the constitutional intent and risks creating a constitutional vacuum.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Erosion of Democratic Balance<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The Deputy Speaker\u2019s post is conventionally allotted to the Opposition to ensure power-sharing and uphold democratic values.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Its continued vacancy centralizes authority in the Speaker\u2014typically from the ruling party\u2014thus disrupting the intended balance between the government and the Opposition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Threat to Parliamentary Stability<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The Indian parliamentary system, modeled on the Westminster tradition, depends on structured debates and mutual accountability.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Without a Deputy Speaker, the resilience of this system is compromised, especially in scenarios such as the resignation or incapacitation of the Speaker, which could lead to a constitutional crisis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Undermining Consensus-Driven Politics<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>By ignoring the convention of offering the Deputy Speaker\u2019s role to the Opposition, the spirit of cooperative and consensus-based governance is weakened, eroding the core values of parliamentary democracy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha FAQs<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Q1.<\/strong>\u00a0What does the Deputy Speaker do?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0Presides in the Speaker\u2019s absence, chairs key committees, maintains order, and ensures continuity in legislative functions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q2.<\/strong>\u00a0Why is the Deputy Speaker\u2019s post vacant?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0Due to political deadlock and reluctance by the ruling party to offer the role to the Opposition.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q3.<\/strong>\u00a0What does Article 93 say?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0Article 93 mandates electing a Deputy Speaker \u201cas soon as may be,\u201d emphasizing urgency but without a fixed timeline.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q4.<\/strong>\u00a0Is the Deputy Speaker always from the Opposition?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0By convention, yes. It promotes balance and cooperation in Parliament, though not a legal requirement.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q5.<\/strong>\u00a0What are the risks of prolonged vacancy?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0It centralizes power, weakens parliamentary accountability, and may trigger a constitutional crisis if the Speaker\u2019s role becomes vacant..<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/deputy-speaker-of-lok-sabha-election-powers-history-and-current-tussle-explained\/article68396848.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/the-post-of-deputy-speaker-is-not-symbolic-or-optional\/article69502193.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understand the Deputy Speaker\u2019s constitutional role, functions, and the serious implications of the post lying vacant in India\u2019s Parliament.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":48623,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[621,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-32839","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-deputy-speaker-of-lok-sabha","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32839"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32839\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}