Lok Sabha Speaker: Powers and Functions

Speaker

• The Presiding Officer of the Lok Sabha heads the proceedings.
• The Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha members.

Functions of the Speaker

• Presides over Lok Sabha proceedings
• Responsible for the smooth operation and decorum.

Accountability and Article 122

• Not answerable to any Court of law while executing official duties under Article 122.
• Answerable to a court of law as the administrative head of the Lok Sabha secretariat.

Special Powers

• Presides over the Joint Sitting of Parliament.
• Decides whether a bill is a Money Bill, with decisions final and not questionable in any court.
• Appoints members to Parliamentary Committees, becoming the ex-officio chairman if they become a member.
• Parliamentary committees mostly function under the Speaker's control; the Speaker appoints or nominates chairpersons.
• Lok Sabha as an institution is always present, and the Speaker represents it.

Special position of Speaker

• Remains in office until the next Lok Sabha is constituted, even when the Lok Sabha is dissolved.

Protem Speaker

• Appointed by the President from newly elected Lok Sabha members.
• Usually the senior most member of the Lok Sabha
• Oath is conducted by the President
• Presides over the newly elected Lok Sabha
• Conducts the oath to the members of the Lok Sabha.
• Presides over the election of the Speaker.

Vacation of Seats: Article 101

• Includes grounds when a Member of Parliament's seat is vacated.
• Simultaneous membership in both houses is not allowed, must intimate within 10 days to continue in Rajya Sabha.
• If a member of one House is elected to the other, their seat in the first House becomes vacant.
• Cannot remain a member of Parliament and a state legislature simultaneously; must resign within 14 days.
• Subject to disqualification under Article 102.
• Resignation by writing to the presiding officer.
• Absence from proceedings for 60 days without permission may result in seat declaration as vacant.

Sessions of Parliament

• Meets in 3 regular sessions and may convene a special session.
• Under Article 85 there should be a maximum gap of 6 months time between two sessions.
• Regular and special sessions are summoned by the President on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
• 3 sessions: Budget, Monsoon, and Winter; the Constitution does not mention these sessions.

Regular Session: Budget Session

• The first and most important session of the year which starts in February and lasts until May.
• Generally starts with the President addressing a joint sitting of both houses.
• A vote of thanks to the President expresses confidence in the Council of Ministers.
• A confidence motion is passed every year as a vote of thanks to the President.
• The budget is presented and passed, making this session the most important.

Regular Session: Monsoon Session

• Second session, held from July to September.

Regular Session: Winter Session

• Held from November to December, the shortest of the 3 sessions.

Special Session

• Can be convened within or outside the session.
• A particular business is conducted under the Special Session of the Parliament.
• Only specified business is transacted.
• In 1995, Narasimha Rao conducted a special session in June for electoral reform.

Special Session of the Lok Sabha

• Under Article 352, if 1/10th of Lok Sabha members express intent to move a resolution for discontinuance of the National Emergency to the speaker.
• If the Lok Sabha already in session or to the president if the Lok Sabha is not in session then a special session of the Lok Sabha shall be conveyed within 14 days after the notice is served in that session.
• Resolution approval leads to the president revoking the national emergency.
• Held under convention, convened by the president on the advice of ministers.
• Only one business is conducted: discontinuance of National Emergency.

Prorogation of a Session

• It is done by the president.
• . It brings a session to an end, Parliament can only meet again if summoned by the President.
• The President prorogues the session on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.

Adjournment

• An act of the house which is exercised by the presiding officer.
• It means a short break within a session of the house.

Adjournment Sine Die

• The house is adjourned without fixing the date for its next sitting.

Dissolution of Lok Sabha

• It is done by the President on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
• General elections are held to elect the next Lok Sabha.
• Pending business and bills before the Lok Sabha ends with dissolution.

Bill Lapsing Conditions

• A bill originating in Lok Sabha and pending there.
• A bill passed by the Lok Sabha but pending before the Rajya Sabha.
• A bill passed by the Rajya Sabha but pending before the Lok Sabha.

Bill Non-Lapsing Conditions

• A bill originating in Rajya Sabha and pending there.
• A bill passed by both houses and awaiting presidential assent.
• Joint sitting called to resolve deadlock before Lok Sabha dissolution.

Explore the role and functions of the Lok Sabha Speaker. Learn about their election, responsibilities in presiding over proceedings, and special powers including decisions on Money Bills and parliamentary committees.