Protem Speaker for Legislative Assembly

GS Paper II Polity

Context: Eight-time BJP MLA and former Minister Kalicharan Saraf took oath as the protem Speaker of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

About Protem Speaker

Pro-tem is a Latin phrase which translates to ‘for the time being’ in English.
The Constitution does not expressly use the term ‘Pro-tem Speaker’.
Pro-tem Speaker is appointed by the President\ Governor temporarily to conduct proceedings in State legislatures till the Speaker gets elected.
He/she is ordinarily elected for the first sitting of a new legislative assembly.
Once the new speaker is elected, the office of the pro-tem speaker ceases to exist.
Power: Usually, a pro-tem Speaker administers the oath to Assembly Members.

About Child Marriage

It refers to any formal marriage or informal union between a child under the age of 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys in India.

Constitutional Convention and Seniority: The appointment of Protem Speaker, is dictated by a constitutional convention which provides that, the senior most member of the House to be chosen as pro-tem speaker (Seniority in this context refers to the membership in the House and not the age of the member)

ALSO READ: STATE LEGISLATURE – ARTICLE 168-212 (PART VI-STATE)

News Source: The Hindu