‘Once a Speaker, Always a Speaker’! Do you think this practice should be adopted to impart objectivity to the office of the Speaker of Lok Sabha? What could be its implications for the robust functioning of parliamentary business in India?. (UPSC IAS Mains 2020 General Studies Paper – 2)
- The Speaker of the House is a key office in parliamentary democracy. The Speaker facilitates the business of the House and maintains decorum in the House. The Speaker has functions to perform in regulatory, administrative and judicial matters.
- However, the Speakers have often been alleged to be working under their respective party affiiliations. There have been incidents when the opposition members have been denied chance to raise questions. In a recent case, the demand for recording of votes has been declined by the Speaker and the motion had been passed by voice vote.
- Speakers have also been blamed for harboring political ambitions asthe person elected as Speaker are eligible for further appointment. For example, G.S. Dhillon, Speaker of the Lok Sabha (for two terms), stepped down in 1975, and became the Union Minister for Shipping.
- As a revamp in the structure of the office, the UK practice of Once a Speaker always a Speaker is sometimes suggested. In the United Kingdom, once elected, the Speaker gives up all party affiliations and remains in office until retirement. Political parties do not field candidates from the constituency of the Speaker to ensure his/her re-election to the house. The British Parliament automatically elevates the Speaker to the House of Lords once they demit office.
Implications of adopting UK system of Speaker in India:
- The UK system ensures impartiality, fairness and autonomy of the Office of the Speaker.
- It ensures the freedom from interference and pressures which provide the necessary atmosphere where one can work with absolute commitment to the cause of neutrality as a constitutional value.
- It also ensures security of tenure.
- Nevertheless, uncontested re-election impacts representative democracy at the level of constituency.
- One person at one post for life also prevents bringing new conduct and alternative point of views in the office.
- The level of autonomy this system provides requires establishment of a similar level of accountability mechanism.
Given the need for reform for the office of the Speaker in India, it is necessary to strengthen the office of Speaker in India.
- In Ireland, the position of Speaker is given to someone who has built up credibility by relinquishing his or her political ambitions.
- Speaker can be disallowed from future political office, except that of the President, while being given a pension for life.
- Issues associated with representative disqualification can be determined by a separate tribunal.
- The restrictions can be placed on the discretionary powers of the Speaker. These may include imposing deadlines to deal with the cases of resignation or disqualification or floor tests.
It is time to ensure impartiality and transparency in the office of the Speaker by imposing a deadline and a set of guidelines required to exercise all the entrusted powers. It is only after such changes are put in place that the revered office of the Speaker can truly be called the symbol of India’s freedom and liberty.
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