Why is post of Speaker important in Lok Sabha

Whether it is the centre or the state, if a coalition government is formed instead of a single party getting majority, then the role of the speaker in the popular house (Lok Sabha-Vidhan Sabha) becomes important. With the formation of the NDA government at the centre with TDP-JDU and other allied parties under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all eyes are on the new speaker. There has been no official confirmation of the discussion of pressure from constituent parties on BJP for the post of speaker. Let us know what is the role of the speaker in Lok Sabha and what are his legal powers?

How is the speaker elected?

According to Article 93, the speaker should be elected as soon as possible after the commencement of the house. He is elected by a simple majority in the house. His term ends with the dissolution of the house. He can resign from the post earlier through resignation or no-confidence motion.

Who can become Speaker?

There is no need for special qualification to become the speaker, any MP of Lok Sabha can become the speaker. The salary of the speaker is paid from the Consolidated Fund of India.

Powers of the Speaker

Conduct of the House:

The speaker decides the manner of conduct of the House, following the rules and choosing the procedures is in his hands

Government work in the House like introducing a bill is done in consultation with the Speaker, the Leader of the House i.e. the Prime Minister

Permission of the Speaker is required for a member to ask a question or for any discussion.

The speaker decides which question is eligible to be asked.

The speaker decides to remove the comments made in the House partially or completely from the record.

Vote in the House

The speaker decides whether to pass a proposal/bill/resolution in the House by voice vote or by division of votes. If the number of the ruling party is more, the speaker can ignore the request for division of votes.

No confidence motion and tender vote in general

The speaker only accepts the no-confidence motion against the government in the House. Acceptance is necessary but the speaker can postpone it for some time. In 2018, when YSRCP and TDP gave notice for a no-confidence motion, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House several times before accepting the proposal and voting. According to Article 100, the speaker does not vote in the House, but in case of a tie on any proposal, he has the right to give the deciding vote. However, such a situation has never arisen in India.

Under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, the power of the speaker to disqualify a member in cases of defection is the most important. For this reason, during coalition governments, the post of the speaker plays the most important role at the time of sabotage or defection in parties. The Supreme Court, in the case of Kihoto Holohan vs. Jachillhu in 1992, has stamped the supremacy of the speaker and said that in the case of defection, only the final order of the speaker will be subject to judicial review. The speaker becomes decisive for the future of the government by hurrying or delaying in giving the final order. If the members of the ruling party defect, he can secure the majority of the government by deciding on disqualification quickly, and can stop the majority of the new government. If he delays the decision to disqualify, the government may fall due to a minority or the other party may have the majority. However, in 2020, the Supreme Court had ruled that the speakers of assemblies and the Lok Sabha must decide disqualification petitions within three months except in exceptional circumstances.