Key role of Deputy Speaker

Role of the Deputy Speaker

• The Deputy Speaker is crucial to maintaining the continuity of legislative work and serves as a neutral arbiter during sensitive discussions.

• The Deputy Speaker’s position is listed under Article 93 of the Constitution, which implies urgency and necessity, not discretion.

• The Deputy Speaker’s office is typically held by the ruling party, but there has been an informal practice of offering the position to an Opposition member.

Prolonged Vacancy

• The Government of India did not appoint a Deputy Speaker in the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24) and appears to have no intention to do so in the 18th Lok Sabha.

• The vacancy violates Articles 93, 94, and 180 of the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure.

Constitutional Implications

• The misinterpretation of Article 93 could lead to a long delay, distorting constitutional intent and creating a constitutional vacuum.

• The vacancy centralizes authority in the Speaker and ruling party, contradicting the democratic intent of the Constitution.

• The failure to uphold the tradition of offering the office to the Opposition undermines the spirit of consensus-driven politics.