The position of the Deputy Speaker has been lying vacant for the last six years raising questions on constitutional adherence and democratic resilience.

Constitutional Foundation 

• Lok Sabha needs: Speaker (Ruling Party) + Deputy Speaker (Opposition) 
• Article 93: Both must be elected “as soon as may be 
• Article 94: Deputy Speaker serves until resignation/removal/disqualification 
• Article 180: Deputy Speaker gets full control when Speaker absent 
• Role: Continuity & neutrality protector, not just backup

Main Responsibilities 

• Functions: Runs House when Speaker in in elections/travel 
• Roles: Chairman of Private Member Bills Committee , Key role in Budget Committee & sensitive debates .
  • Example: 2011-Karia Munda ran House when Meira Kumar went to UK 
• Ensuring continuity: Ensures parliamentary democracy continuity

Democratic Convention 

• Convention: Speaker (Ruling) + Deputy Speaker (Opposition) . Like cricket umpires – neutral to both teams 
• Voice of Opposition: Opposition gets voice & alternative perspective 
• Prevents: Prevents majoritarian dominance in proceedings 
• Mutual Respect: Creates mutual respect & cooperation between parties

Current Crisis 

• Unprecedented Vacancy : 17th Lok Sabha (2019-2024): No Deputy Speaker for 6 years 
• 18th Lok Sabha (2024-2029): Trend continues 
• Rule 8: Election when Speaker fixes date but dates not fixed 
• First time in 75 years: 2 consecutive terms without Deputy Speaker . Creates institutional crisis & breaks democratic tradition

Historical Practice 

• 1952: M.A. Ayyangar (Opposition) – First Deputy Speaker 
• 1991: Shivraj Patil (Speaker) + Suraj Bhan (Deputy Speaker) 
• Till 2019: Every Lok Sabha had Deputy Speaker until 2019 
• Bipartisan support: Showed bipartisan cooperation across governments 
• Erosion: Current trend erosion of 7-decade tradition

Government’s Stand 

• Lack of Consensus: No consensus with Opposition , No suitable candidate available 
• No deadline: Article 93 has no deadline “As soon as may be flexible timing 
• Reality: Don’t want to share House control

Impact of Vacancy of the office

• Constitutional Violations : Article 93 Misinterpretation  “As soon as may be urgency, not convenience . Government interpretation: “whenever convenient” 
  • Framers intended immediate complete infrastructure 
  • Delay mocks constitutional spirit  Sets dangerous precedent for selective compliance
• Majoritarian Control : Speaker (Ruling) + No Deputy Speaker Complete government control 
• Elimination: Eliminates institutional checks & balances 
• Neutral Arbitrator: Opposition loses neutral arbitrator . Parliament becomes rubber stamp vs deliberative body 
• Undermining: Undermines minority rights protection
• Convention Breakdown: Westminster system: Opposition gets significant positions India built on British power-sharing conventions 
• Regression: Past practice showed democratic maturity . Current violation democratic regression 
• Institutional insecurity:  Signals institutional insecurity of ruling party
• Emergency Crisis: An emergency crisis could trigger an institutional vacuum if the Speaker resigns or is incapacitated, leaving no one to preside over the House. 
  • In such a case, emergency sessions may face a procedural deadlock, potentially paralyzing Parliament during a national crisis. 
  • The absence of a predetermined succession plan highlights the dangers of neglecting constitutional mandates.

Way Forward

• Immediate Actions: The Speaker must fix an election date as per Rule 8 without delay. Consensus-building through dialogue is critical. 
  • The Government must prioritize constitutional compliance, while the Opposition should present suitable candidates.
  • Above all, it must be recognized: constitutional mandates are not optional.
• Codification Needed: Formally codify the convention that the Speaker from Ruling Party, Deputy Speaker from Opposition
• Timeline: Establish a constitutional timeline for Speaker and Deputy Speaker elections
• Precedents: Create enforceable precedents to ensure continuity and accountability
• Empowering a Committee: Empower a Parliamentary Committee to review and strengthen procedural safeguards
• Constitutional Amendment: Consider a constitutional amendment to mandate opposition representation in key posts
• Judicial Role: The Supreme Court must interpret the phrase “as soon as may be”. Define clear limits on permissible delay in constitutional appointments
  • Act to protect democratic institutions from executive inaction
  • Establish that constitutional mandates are justiciable, not discretionary
  • Reinforce the principle of constitutional supremacy in governance
• Democratic Discourse: Civil society must actively raise public awareness
• Media: Media should consistently highlight constitutional violations
• Citizens: Citizens must demand strict constitutional compliance.

Conclusion

Academia should educate the public on the importance of the Deputy Speaker and build momentum to create political cost for continued violations

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