Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Indian Polity Notes for APSC, UPSC & State exams
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There are no defined list of rules and procedures for the Officers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. But, the office of the Speaker is more than being only the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha. When any Member is appointed the speaker, he/she keeps his party allegiance aside and acts in an impartial manner.
Powers of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha
The Office of the Speaker is powerful, as it derives powers from three sources –
- The Constitution,
- The Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha and
- The Parliamentary Convention(residuary powers that are unwritten or unspecified).
The Speaker is the sole authority to decide whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not. This decision of his/her cannot be challenged. The Speaker has to consult Article 110 to mark a Bill as Money Bill.
The speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over the joint setting of the two houses. If the Speaker is absent, the Deputy Speaker of the LS presides. If the Deputy Speaker is also absent, then Vice Chairman of the RS presides.
The Speaker enjoys a special relationship with the Parliamentary Committees. All the Joint Parliamentary Committees are appointed by the Speaker and they report to him/her.
The Speaker nominates various members to these committees. If the Speaker is a Member, he/she becomes the ex-officio Chairman.
The Office of the Speaker is retained till the 1st meeting of the next Lok Sabha. All other Members cease to be in office once the Lok Sabha dissolves.
Special Role under the Tenth Schedule to the Indian Constitution (Anti-Defection law)
The Speaker has to accept the resignation of any Member of the House. This is to ensure that the resignation is voluntary. This decision is final but is open to Judicial Review.
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