Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Apr 27, 2022, 11:47

The second-highest ranking legislative position of the Lok Sabha, the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha acts as the speaker when the speaker is unavailable or dead. By convention, this position is offered to the opposition party in India.

The deputy speaker is chosen through election by the house from among its members after the general elections for a five-year term. The elected person serves the position until they resign or no longer remain a member of the Lok Sabha.

Deputy Speaker Lok Sabha - Roles, Functions & Responsibilities

The Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha is not a subordinate to the speaker, and the speaker has no authority over them.
When the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha presides over a sitting, they can exercise all the powers of the Lok Sabha speaker.
Apart from presiding over the house in the speaker's absence, the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha becomes the chairman of the committees held inside and outside the parliament.
Whenever the speaker's post gets vacant, the deputy speaker takes up all the speaker's responsibilities and exercises administrative and legislative powers.
When the speaker is not present, the deputy speaker presides over the Lok Sabha sessions and is responsible for maintaining decorum of the house and discipline.
They can permit different resolutions and motions like the motion of censure, the motion of no confidence, calling attention notice, and others. They also decide whether or not a bill is a money bill.

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Lok Sabha Deputy Speakers - Currently & Over The Years

Unfortunately, the post of Lok Sabha deputy speaker has been unfilled since 2019. This has happened for the first time in the history of independent India. However, it remains critical to have a Voice Speaker of Lok Sabha to ensure the house's smooth functioning and deal with uncertainties.

☛ Also Get: Today's Current Affairs PDF

Recently, the Delhi High Court has asked for an explanation for delaying the appointment. A petition was filed claiming that keeping the post vacant violates Article 93 of the Constitution. India has a long list of eminent individuals holding the position. Here is a definitive Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha List.

Name	Constituency	From	To	Duration
M. A. Ayyangar	Tirupati	30 May 1952	7 March 1956	3 years, 282 days
Hukam Singh	Bathinda	20 March 1956	4 April 1957	6 years, 11 days
S. V. Krishnamoorthy Rao	Shimoga	23 April 1962	3 March 1967	4 years, 314 days
Raghunath Keshav Khadilkar	Khed	28 March 1967	11 November 1969	2 years, 228 days
George Gilbert Swell	Shillong	9 December 1969	18 January 1977	7 years, 40 days
Godey Murahari	Vijaywada	1 April 1977	22 August 1979	2 years, 143 days
G. Lakshmanan	Chennai North	1 December 1980	31 December 1984	4 years, 30 days
M. Thambidurai	Dharmapuri	22 January 1985	27 November 1989	4 years, 309 days
Shivraj Patil	Latur	19 March 1990	13 March 1991	359 days
S. Mallikarjunaiah	Tumkur	13 August 1991	10 May 1996	4 years, 271 days
Suraj Bhan	Ambala	12 July 1996	4 December 1997	1 year, 145 days
P.M. Sayeed	Lakshadweep	17 December 1998	6 February 2004	5 years, 51 days
Charanjit Singh Atwal	Phillaur	9 June 2004	18 May 2009	4 years, 343 days
Kariya Munda	Khunti	3 June 2009	18 May 2014	4 years, 349 days
M. Thambidurai	Karur	13 August 2014	25 May 2019	4 years, 285 days
Vacant	23 June 2019	Incumbent	2 years, 302 days

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FAQs on Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha

Q.1) Has a Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha served more than once?

M. Thambidurai has served twice as the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha.

Q.2) What is the main role of the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha?

The deputy speaker acts as the presiding officer whenever the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha is unavailable.

Q.3) Who was the First Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha?

The First Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha was M.A. Ayyangar, who served from 1952 to 1956.

Q.4) How can a Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha be removed?

The Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha can be removed from the office by a resolution passed by a majority of the members.

Q.5) Who is the current Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha?

Since 2019, ever since the retirement of M Thambidurai, the role has remained vacant, with no new names being submitted for the post of Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha.