Lok Sabha Speaker’s List [ 1952 to Till date ]

The Office of the Speaker holds a pivotal position in our parliamentary democracy. While the members of Parliament represent the individual constituencies, the Speaker represents the full power of the House itself. He or she signifies the dignity and control of the House over which he/she is leading. Therefore, the holder of this Office of great pride has to be one who can represent the House in all its manifestations.

The responsibility consigned to the Speaker is so demanding that he/she cannot afford to overlook any perspective of parliamentary life. His/Her actions come under scrutiny in the House and are also widely communicated in the mass media. With the televising of proceedings of Parliament, the small screen delivers to millions of households in the nation the day-to-day advancements in the House, making the Speaker’s responsibility all the more critical.

List of the speakers of the Lok Sabha

Term of office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha

• The Speaker holds the office for five years maximum.
• The Speaker holds the office from the date of his election till immediately before the first assemblage of Lok Sabha after the dissolution of one to which he/she was elected.
• He or she is qualified for re-election.
• On the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, although the Speaker discontinues being a member of the House, he/she does not renounce his/her office.
• The Speaker may resign from office any moment by writing under his/her hand to the Deputy Speaker.
• Speaker can be dismissed only on a resolution of the House passed with a majority of all members in the House. Such a resolution has to meet some necessary conditions like: it should be particular concerning the charges, and it should not contain contentions, inferences, ironical expressions, allegations or defamatory statements, etc.
• Disputes should be held to charges related to the resolution. It is also compulsory to give a minimum of 14 days’ intimation of the intention to move the resolution.

Election of Speaker

In the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of the Indian Parliament, both Presiding Officers – the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are elected from among its members by a simple majority of members present and voting in the House. Indian Constitution mentions, no specific qualifications for being selected as the Speaker. The Constitution only demands that the Speaker should be a member of the House.

Functions of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha

• The Speaker is the head of the Lok Sabha Secretariat which functions under his/her ultimate control and direction.
• The Speaker’s authority over the Secretariat staff of the House, its precincts, and its security arrangements is supreme.
• All strangers, visitors, and press correspondents are subject to his/her discipline and orders. Any breach of an order attracts punishment utilizing exclusion from the precincts of the Parliament House or stoppage of admission tickets to the galleries for a definite or indefinite period, or in more severe cases, dealt with as contempt or breach of privilege.
• Any alterations or additions in the Parliament House or any new structure to be erected in the Parliament Estate requires the Speaker’s permission.