Speaker of Lok Sabha

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the presiding officer of the upper house of Parliament of India. His role is similar to that of Speakers elsewhere in other 3rd world countries that use the Westminster System of government.

The speaker is elected in the very first meeting of the Lok Sabha after the General elections for a term of 5 years from amongst the members of the Lok Sabha. He is supposed to resign from his original party because as a speaker, he has to remain impartial.

Powers and functions of the Speaker

The Speaker presides over the sessions of the Lok Sabha and conducts the business in the house. He decides whether a bill is a money bill or a non money bill. he maintains discipline and decorum in the house and can punish a member for his unruly behaviour by suspending him. He permits the moving of various kinds of motions and resolutions like the motion of no confidence, motion of adjournment, motion of censure and calling attention notice. The Speaker decides on the agenda to be taken up for discussion during the meeting.

List of Speakers

# G.V. Mavlankar May 15, 1952 - February 27, 1956 "Indian National Congress"
# M. A. Ayyangar March 8, 1956 - April 16, 1962 "Indian National Congress"
# Sardar Hukam Singh April 17, 1962 - March 16, 1967 "Indian National Congress"
# N. Sanjiva Reddy March 17, 1967 - July 19, 1969 "Indian National Congress"
# G.S. Dhillon August 8, 1969 - December 1, 1975 "Indian National Congress"
# Bali Ram Bhagat January 15, 1976 - March 25, 1977 "Indian National Congress"
# N. Sanjiva Reddy,March 26, 1977 - July 13, 1977 Janata Party
# K.S. Hegde July 21, 1977 - January 21, 1980 "Janata Party"
# Balram Jakhar January 22, 1980 - December 18, 1989 "Indian National Congress"
# Rabi Ray December 19, 1989 - July 9, 1991 "Janata Dal"
# Shivraj Patil July 10, 1991 - May 22, 1996 "Indian National Congress"
# P.A. Sangma May 25, 1996 - March 23, 1998 "Indian National Congress"
# G.M.C. Balayogi March 24, 1998 - March 3, 2002 "Telugu Desam Party"
# Manohar Joshi May 10, 2002 - June 2, 2004 "Shiv Sena"
# Somnath Chatterjee June 4, 2004 - till date "Communist Party of India-Marxist"

External links

* [http://speakerloksabha.nic.in/ Office of the Lok Sabha Speaker]