What is the importance of the post of Deputy Speaker in Lok Sabha, why is the opposition adamant on its insistence, understand the whole story here

New Delhi: BJP MP Om Birla has been elected Speaker for the 18th Lok Sabha. But politics is still hot over the post of Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha. The opposition is hoping to get the post of Deputy Speaker. Many Congress leaders have openly demanded this. The opposition had also fielded its candidate for the post of Speaker. Last time, during the tenure of the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24), there was no Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha. However, during the tenure of the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-19), M Thambi Durai of AIADMK, an ally of BJP, was made Deputy Speaker. At the same time, from 1990 to 2014, the post of Deputy Speaker remained with the opposition continuously. After all, what is the importance of the post of Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, why is the opposition demanding this post? Let us tell you.What does the Constitution say about the post of Deputy Speaker?
The opposition is claiming that in democracy the post of Deputy Speaker has been given to the opposition. After all, what does the Constitution say about this? Let us first understand this. There are rules in Article 95 (1) of the Constitution regarding the post of Deputy Speaker. According to this, if the post of Lok Sabha Speaker is vacant, then the Deputy Speaker performs the duties of the Speaker. While presiding over the House, the Deputy Speaker has the same general powers as the Speaker. All references to ‘Speaker’ in the rules are considered to be references to the Deputy Speaker for the time when he/she presides. At the same time, Article 93 states that two members should be appointed as Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha as soon as possible. Article 178 has a similar provision for Speaker and Deputy Speaker in state assemblies.

Is the post of deputy speaker mandatory in Lok Sabha?
There was no deputy speaker in the previous Lok Sabha. This time the opposition is demanding it strongly. But it is important to understand whether the post of deputy speaker is mandatory in the Lok Sabha? Actually, no time limit has been set for this post in the Constitution. This is the reason why the government keeps postponing the appointment of the deputy speaker. However, experts say that the words ‘shall’ and ‘as soon as possible’ have been used in Articles 93 and 178. This shows that the post of deputy speaker in the Lok Sabha is not only necessary but its appointment should be done as soon as possible.

What are the rules for the election of Deputy Speaker?
The same rules apply for the election of the Deputy Speaker as for the election of the Speaker. The Deputy Speaker is elected by the members of the House. Generally, in the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha, the Speaker is elected in the first session of the new House. The Speaker is elected on the third day after the oath of the MPs. The Deputy Speaker is elected in the second session. In the Lok Sabha, the Deputy Speaker is elected by Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha. According to Rule 8, the election shall be held ‘on such date as the Speaker may determine’. The Deputy Speaker is elected when a motion in his/her or her name is passed. Once elected, the Deputy Speaker usually remains in office until the House is dissolved.

Is it necessary to have an opposition member as deputy speaker?
The opposition is constantly demanding the post of deputy speaker. On the other hand, the BJP is calling this demand of the opposition baseless. But is it really necessary to give the post of deputy speaker to the opposition? The answer is no. There is no such rule, but usually the deputy speaker has been made from the opposition. For example, the post of deputy speaker remained with the opposition during both the tenures of the Congress-led Manmohan government from 2004 to 2009 and from 2009 to 2014. In the first tenure, Charanjit Singh Atwal of Shiromani Akali Dal and in the second tenure, Karia Munda of BJP were made deputy speakers. Apart from this, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister from 1999 to 2004, PM Sayeed of Congress was made deputy speaker. Sayeed was also the deputy speaker during the short-lived BJP government from 1998 to 1999. Between 1996 and 1997, when HD Devegowda was the Prime Minister, this post was given to Suraj Bhan of BJP. Apart from this, BJP’s K.S. Mallikarjunaiah was made Deputy Speaker in the PV Narasimha Rao government in 1991-96 and Congress’s Shivraj Patil was made Deputy Speaker in the Chandrashekhar government (1990-91).

How right is it for the opposition to demand the post of deputy speaker?
There have been many governments when either the Deputy Speaker was not appointed or if appointed, it was from their own allies. From 1952 to 1969, the first four Deputy Speakers were from the ruling Congress. Thambi Durai of AIADMK became the Deputy Speaker for the first time in the 8th Lok Sabha (1984-89), when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister. DMK’s G Lakshmanan held this post from 1980 to 1984 in the Indira Gandhi government. Each of these parties was an ally of the Congress at that time. In such a situation, the opposition’s claim that the post of Deputy Speaker should be given to them has neither any rule nor any solid basis. Apart from this, even in the states where there are Congress governments, the post of Deputy Speaker has not been given to the opposition, whereas the rules for Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the Assembly and Lok Sabha are the same.