Indian Polity : Parliament

Q 33 / 51

UPSC CSE Prelims 2012

Regarding the office of the Lok Sabha Speaker, consider the following statements:

  1. He/She holds the office during the pleasure of the President.
  2. He/She need not be a member of the House at the time of his/her election but has to become a member of the House within six months from the date of his/her election.
  3. If he/she intends to resign, the letter of his/her resignation has to be addressed to the Deputy Speaker.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

EXPLANATION

Correct Option

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha addresses their letter of resignation to the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha. This provision is explicitly stated in Article 94(b) of the Constitution of India.

Incorrect Options

Statement 1: The Speaker does not hold office during the pleasure of the President. The Speaker normally holds office until the first meeting of the new Lok Sabha after the dissolution of the one he/she was elected to. The Speaker can be removed from office by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the Lok Sabha, after giving 14 days' advance notice. This is outlined in Article 94(c) of the Constitution.

Statement 2: To be elected as Speaker, a person must be a member of the Lok Sabha. There is no constitutional provision or parliamentary rule that allows a non-member to be elected as Speaker and then acquire membership within six months, unlike the provision for ministers under Article 75(5).

SOURCEIndian Polity by M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 22: Parliament