The most essential emblem of Indian democracy is Parliament. It is done by summoning the House and summoning MPs to engage in legislative and other activities through procedures such as discussion, debates, committee dispensations, and other methods. Parliament allows individuals to participate in decision-making and keep the government accountable through their representatives.
LokSabha: According to Article 83(2), the LokSabha’s tenure begins on the day of its first meeting and ends five years afterwards, unless dissolved sooner. As a result, the current LokSabha’s tenure will conclude on June 16, 2024. It is the Lower House (First Chamber or Popular House), and it represents the whole Indian population.
The LokSabha has a maximum strength of 550 members, with 530 representing the states and 20 representing the UTs. The LokSabha currently has 543 members, with 530 representing states and 13 representing UTs. The people directly elect state legislators from territorial districts within the states.
The LokSabha has two presiding officers, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, who are elected by the members of the Parliament. According to Article 93, when the House reconvenes following the election, these two presiding officials are elected one after the other. Following the oath-taking, the procedure was to elect the Speaker. The Deputy Speaker is likewise elected within a few days. Even though the current LokSabha has been in session for three years and seven months, no Deputy Speaker has been elected.
In the 10th LokSabha, S Mallikarjunaiah was elected 33 days after the Speaker was elected, SurajBhan was elected 49 days after the Speaker was chosen, and P M Sayeed was elected 9 months after the Speaker was elected.
Deputy Speaker: It is as crucial as the Speaker of the House. Article 93 states that the House should elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker as quickly as possible. Historically, the administration has proposed the name of the Speaker and chosen a member of the Opposition as a consensus candidate for the role of Deputy Speaker.
The Deputy Speaker’s position dates back to the Government of India Act of 1919, when he was known as Deputy President since the Speaker was recognised as the president of the central legislative assembly. A Deputy Speaker’s principal duties were presiding over assembly sittings in the absence of the Speaker and chairing select committees, among other things.
After independence, the Deputy Speaker was elected to head the meetings of the Constituent Assembly in addition to the Speaker (Legislative). On September 3, 1948, the Constituent Assembly (Legislative) elected G V Mavalankar as Speaker and M AnanthasayanamAyyangar as Deputy Speaker.
Every LokSabha had a Deputy Speaker who was chosen a few days after the Speaker was elected. Selecting an Opposition member to serve as Deputy Speaker has become a norm. If a government does not want to support an Opposition member for political reasons, it is allowed to select a member of its own party.
The Speaker must set the date for the election of the Deputy Speaker under Rule 8 of the LokSabha Rules and Procedures. After the date is set, any member may offer the name of another member through a move to the House for consideration. The House can then choose its Deputy Speaker.
If this fails, the administration may submit the name of one of its own members for this position. Alternative method: Since it is the Speaker’s responsibility to start the process by setting a date, which he has yet to do. Any member of the House may introduce a motion requesting that the Speaker set the date.
The treasury benches cannot oppose such a resolution since it is intended to carry out the constitutional mission. The date of the Speaker’s election is set by the President, who must follow the advise of the Union cabinet. In the case of the Speaker, there is no constitutional obligation that the President wait for the Union cabinet’s opinion before announcing the date for the election of the Deputy Speaker.
The Deputy Speaker has the same power as the Speaker when he presides over a session of the House. A judgement made by the Deputy Speaker is not appealable to the Speaker. As a result, the Speaker has no authority to revise or overturn a Deputy Speaker’s decision.
The Deputy Speaker has these rights only when the Speaker is not present; his decisions are definitive and binding when he issues a judgement. The Supreme Court has taken up the case, and the status quo may be upset. Article 93 provides a required provision that the House must follow.