NEWS – Missing the Mandate: Deputy Speaker Posts Vacant in Lok Sabha and 8 States

HIGHLIGHTS

 Constitutional Mandate

• Article 93 of the Constitution mandates the election of both a Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the Lok Sabha.
• Article 178 governs the same for State Legislative Assemblies.
• The Deputy Speaker plays a crucial role in:
  • Presiding in the absence of the Speaker.
  • Receiving and handling no-confidence motions against the Speaker.
  • Maintaining continuity and neutrality in legislative proceedings.

Current Status: Widespread Vacancies

Lok Sabha:

• No Deputy Speaker has been elected since June 2019, during PM Modi’s second term.
• The position remains vacant even after the start of his third term.

States with Vacant Deputy Speaker Posts:

• Total States Affected: 8
• States & Duration of Vacancy:
  • Jharkhand: 20 years, 2 months (longest vacancy)
  • Rajasthan: 6 years, 3 months
  • Madhya Pradesh: 5 years, 2 months
  • Uttarakhand: 3 years, 3 months
  • Chhattisgarh & Telangana: 1 year, 4 months
  • Uttar Pradesh: Current assembly (3 years in) has not elected one
  • Jammu & Kashmir: 6 months since last assembly election

Jharkhand – The Longest Vacancy

• Last held by Saba Ahmed (March 6, 2005).
• Preceded by Bagun Sumbrai, the first Deputy Speaker (2002–2004).
• No appointment since 2005.

Political and Procedural Implications

• Opposition alleges deliberate delay to avoid sharing key procedural posts.
• I.N.D.I.A bloc raised concerns during the Budget Session, criticizing:
  • Non-election of a Deputy Speaker.
  • Erosion of parliamentary conventions and neutrality.
• Congress MP Kodikkunnil Suresh was fielded as a symbolic opposition candidate for the Speaker’s post in June.