📜 The Constitutional Mandate
-
Article 93 of the Constitution:
Mandates the Lok Sabha to elect both a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker “as soon as may be” after its first sitting. -
Article 94:
Guarantees continuity—Deputy Speaker holds office until resignation, removal, or disqualification.
⚠️ Key Point: This isn’t symbolic. It’s structural. The absence of a Deputy Speaker undermines constitutional design.
🕰️ The Historical Roots
-
Colonial origin: Deputy President of Central Legislative Assembly (1921)
➤ First: Sachidanand Sinha -
Post-independence milestone:
In 1956, M.A. Ayyangar assumed Speaker duties after G.V. Mavalankar’s death, ensuring uninterrupted proceedings.
📚 Why it matters: The role is the emergency fallback, not a formality.
⚙️ Crucial Role, Core Responsibilities
-
Chairs Lok Sabha sessions in the Speaker’s absence.
-
Heads select committees and mediates parliamentary debates.
-
Expected to uphold impartiality, like the Speaker.
-
Tradition: Often from the Opposition—a healthy bipartisan norm.
🧠 Democracy works when dissent has a seat at the table.
🚨 The Troubling Gap: 17th & 18th Lok Sabha Vacancies
-
No Deputy Speaker since 2019.
-
A 5+ year delay mocks the phrase “as soon as may be.”
👎 Implications:
-
Power centralization in the Speaker’s office.
-
Weakening of institutional checks and balances.
-
Governance risk in emergencies (resignation/death of Speaker).
-
Breach of constitutional morality and democratic conventions.
⚖️ From Oversight to Breach
-
Not appointing a Deputy Speaker is not just delay—it’s constitutional erosion.
-
Bypassing the Opposition’s rightful claim to the post = partisan overreach.
-
Undermines consensus-building and parliamentary federalism.
🧭 Governance is not just about rules; it’s about respect for institutional norms.
🛠️ The Way Forward – Reform Ideas
🔧 Constitutional Amendment:
Mandate election of Deputy Speaker within 60 days of new Lok Sabha’s first session.
📜 Statutory Provision:
Empower President, on Cabinet advice, to trigger the process if delayed.
✅ This would:
-
Remove ambiguity in “as soon as may be”
-
Preserve the functionality of the House
-
Uphold constitutional spirit
🔚 Conclusion: Restore the Balance
The Deputy Speaker is not an optional extra—it’s a constitutional necessity.
India, as the world’s largest democracy, must lead by example. Ignoring this role signals executive indifference to parliamentary principles. It’s time to reassert the foundational values of accountability, balance, and bipartisanship.