Answer:

Introduction:

The Lok Sabha Speaker, a constitutional authority, holds a position pivotal to India’s parliamentary democracy. Enshrined under Article 93 of the Indian Constitution, the Speaker’s role is crucial in maintaining the decorum and facilitating the smooth functioning of the House. Recently, discussions around enhancing the Speaker’s impartiality and effectiveness have gained momentum, particularly in light of incidents where the neutrality of the Speaker was called into question during legislative proceedings.

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Evolving Role of the Lok Sabha Speaker

• Conductor of Parliamentary Proceedings: Initially viewed merely as a moderator, the Speaker’s role has expanded to include significant administrative duties and control over all parliamentary proceedings.
• Upholder of Discipline: The Speaker enforces discipline and decorum in the House, a role that has become increasingly challenging with the rise in disruptive behaviour by members.
• Decider of Legislative Designations: The Speaker’s power to designate bills as Money Bills has profound implications for legislative control and has evolved into a crucial function that can determine the legislative agenda​.
• Protector of Parliamentary Privileges: Over the years, the role has expanded to include safeguarding the privileges of the members of the House, highlighting the Speaker’s role in balancing authority and member rights.
• Dispute Resolution: The Speaker acts as an adjudicator in disputes related to parliamentary procedures and privileges.
• Facilitator of Technology in Parliament: With technological advancements, the Speaker has also become instrumental in integrating digital tools into parliamentary proceedings, enhancing transparency and public engagement and better management of parliamentary proceedings.​
• Representative on International Forums: The Speaker represents the Indian Parliament in various international bodies, a role that has grown in importance as India’s global engagement increases​.
• Public Engagement: Actively participating in outreach programs to improve public understanding and involvement in parliamentary processes.

Proposed or Implemented Reforms

• Mandatory Resignation from Political Party: To enhance impartiality, there have been calls for the Speaker to resign from their political party upon election, a practice aimed at reducing political biases​​.
  For instance: National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) (2002) suggested that the Speaker should give up the membership of their political party to uphold the neutrality of the office.
• Introduction of an Independent Tribunal: The Supreme Court has suggested establishing an independent tribunal to decide on matters like disqualifications, currently under the Speaker’s purview, to ensure fairness and reduce partisanship​.
  For instance: In the Kihoto Hollohan vs. Zachillhu case (1992), one of the judges observed that the suspicion of bias on the Speaker’s role could not be ruled out as their election and tenure depend on the majority will of the House, primarily the ruling party. 
• Fixed Tenure for the Speaker: Proposals have been made to provide the Speaker with a fixed tenure to shield them from political pressures and enhance stability in the office.
  For example: Adopting practices from countries like the UK, where the Speaker once elected, is usually re-elected unopposed in subsequent general elections. This practice promotes impartiality and stability in parliamentary proceedings.
• Transparent Electoral Process: Enhancing the transparency of the Speaker’s election process to ensure it is free from political maneuvering and truly reflective of the collective choice of the entire House​​.
• Continuity Based on Performance: Similar to judicial appointments, there have been suggestions to allow the continuation of a Speaker based on their demonstrated impartiality and effectiveness, evaluated through a structured mechanism​.
  For instance: A committee could be established to assess the Speaker’s performance, with continuation in office based on these evaluations as observed in few counries like UK where the Speaker have demonstrated fairness and impartiality during their tenure.
• Educational and Experience Requirements: Proposals to stipulate minimum educational qualifications or parliamentary experience for candidates aspiring to become Speaker to ensure that the person holding the office has a deep understanding of parliamentary laws and ethics​​.

Conclusion:

The role of the Lok Sabha Speaker is crucial in upholding the democratic ethos of India’s parliamentary system. As the demands on this office evolve with the changing political and technological landscape, so too must the mechanisms that ensure its effectiveness and impartiality. Implementing robust reforms to enhance the independence and accountability of the Speaker is imperative to maintain the integrity of the position and by extension, the Parliament itself. These reforms will ensure that the Speaker not only presides over the House but also upholds the highest standards of impartiality and fairness, reflecting the democratic spirit of India.

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