Deputy Speaker vacancy weakens India’s parliamentary balance

Source: The post Deputy Speaker vacancy weakens India’s parliamentary balance has been created, based on the article “The post of Deputy Speaker is not symbolic or optional” published in “The Hindu” on 29 April 2025. Deputy Speaker vacancy weakens India’s parliamentary balance.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

Context: The Deputy Speaker’s office in the Lok Sabha is a constitutional necessity under Article 93 of the Indian Constitution. However, the persistent vacancy of this position in recent years has raised serious concerns about constitutional adherence and parliamentary integrity.

For detailed information on The missing Deputy Speaker: What is the post, and what does the Constitution say read this article here

Constitutional Basis and Historical Evolution

1. Mandate under the Constitution: Article 93 requires the Lok Sabha to elect a Speaker and Deputy Speaker “as soon as may be,” indicating urgency, not discretion. Article 94 ensures the Deputy Speaker remains in office until resignation, removal, or ceasing to be a Member of Parliament.
2. Origins During British Rule: The position dates back to the colonial era as the Deputy President of the Central Legislative Assembly. Sachidanand Sinha first held the post in 1921, embedding it as a key parliamentary fixture.
3. Role in Post-Independence India: After Independence, the Constituent Assembly retained the Deputy Speaker’s office even before the full adoption of the Constitution. M.A. Ayyangar, the first elected Deputy Speaker, demonstrated the role’s importance during the crisis following Speaker G.V. Mavalankar’s death.

Functional Importance of the Deputy Speaker

1. Supporting the Speaker’s Duties: Given the Speaker cannot preside over all sessions, the Deputy Speaker ensures the House’s continuous functioning without procedural disruption.
2. Handling Important Responsibilities: The Deputy Speaker chairs critical sessions, oversees committees, and manages sensitive debates requiring neutrality, mirroring the Speaker’s expected impartiality.
3. Strengthening Bipartisanship: Traditionally, the post has been offered to the Opposition to foster trust and cooperation, supporting the non-partisan ethos of the Speaker’s role.

The Emerging Constitutional Vacuum

1. Prolonged Vacancy in Recent Lok Sabhas: The 17th Lok Sabha (2019–2024) saw the Deputy Speaker’s seat vacant for the entire term. The 18th Lok Sabha has yet to appoint one, an unprecedented constitutional anomaly.
2. Undermining Institutional Safeguards: This vacancy centralizes power with the Speaker and ruling party, eliminating a critical counterbalance. In emergencies, the absence could create leadership confusion in the House.
3. Erosion of Parliamentary Conventions: Failing to offer the post to the Opposition disregards established conventions that promote inclusivity and consensus-driven politics.

Need for Urgent Reforms

1. Closing Constitutional Ambiguities: Setting a mandatory deadline, such as within 60 days of the Lok Sabha’s first sitting, could ensure timely appointment and compliance with constitutional intent.
2. Proposing Statutory Mechanisms: A legal provision could empower the President to initiate the election process within a specific timeframe on the advice of the Prime Minister or Speaker.
3. Reaffirming Democratic Commitment: Electing a Deputy Speaker is crucial to uphold the Constitution and demonstrate the Parliament’s commitment to rule-based governance.

Question for practice:

Examine how the prolonged vacancy of the Deputy Speaker’s office affects constitutional governance and parliamentary functioning in India.