The Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and five states — Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand — over the failure to elect a Deputy Speaker.

The Post of Deputy Speaker

• The Deputy Speaker is the second-highest-ranking official of the Lok Sabha, after the Speaker.
• She/he presides over the House in the absence of the Speaker, maintains order and decorum, and decides points of order raised by the members.
• She/he is elected by the members of the House and holds office until the next Lok Sabha is constituted.

Constitutional provisions for Dy. Speaker

• The Constitution of India provides for the post of Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha under Article 93.
• The Deputy Speaker is elected by the members of the House and holds the office until the next Lok Sabha is constituted.
• The Constitution does not provide for a temporary or acting Deputy Speaker in case of the incumbent’s absence or inability to perform the duties.
• Article 178 contains the corresponding position for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of a state.

Is it mandatory to have a Deputy Speaker?

• Constitutional experts point out that both Articles 93 and 178 use the word “shall”, indicating that the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker is mandatory under the Constitution.

What if she/he remains absent?

• In the absence of Dy. Speaker, the house functions with the Speaker or the panel of chairpersons presiding over the House.
• The House may elect a new Deputy Speaker to fill the post until the next assembly is constituted.
• The House might need to elect a new Deputy Speaker in case of the incumbent’s absence or inability to perform the duties.

Why discuss this?

• The post of Deputy Speaker is an important position in the Lok Sabha/Legislative Assembly and plays a crucial role in conducting the House proceedings.
• It is important to ensure the post’s functioning to maintain the House’s order and decorum and conduct the House proceedings smoothly.

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