Recently, President of India Smt. Draupadi Murmu has appointed Bhartruhari Mahtab, seven-time Member of Parliament from Cuttack, as Pro-tem Speaker of 18th Lok Sabha and administered oath to him. The Pro-tem Speaker in India is appointed by the President under Article 95(1) of the Constitution and performs his duties until the election of a permanent Speaker of the Lok Sabha of India.
Meaning and Role of Pro-tem Speaker in India
- Pro-tem is a Latin phrase which means in English – “for the time being” or “for the time being”.
- Thus, Pro-tem Speaker is a temporary Speaker who is appointed for a limited period to conduct business in the Lok Sabha or State Legislatures. • When the Lok Sabha or Assembly elections have been completed and voting for the permanent Speaker and Deputy Speaker has not taken place, a Protem Speaker is selected to run the House.
- The term ‘Protem Speaker’ is not clearly mentioned in the Constitution of India, but this post plays an important role in the parliamentary system of India.
- When the new Speaker is elected by the House, the term of the Protem Speaker ends automatically.
- When the Speaker of the previous Lok Sabha resigns from his post just before the first meeting of the newly elected Lok Sabha, the President appoints a senior member of the Lok Sabha as the Protem Speaker.
- Usually the most senior member is selected for this post.
- The President himself administers the oath to the Protem Speaker.
- He presides over the first meeting of the newly elected Lok Sabha and has all the powers of the Speaker. • Its main function is to administer oath to the new members and enable the House to elect a new Speaker.
- The main purpose of the Protem Speaker is to preside over the meetings of the newly elected House and conduct the election of the new Speaker of the House.
History of Protem Speaker in India
- The history of Protem Speaker in India is also important and special because in the year 1921, the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker were created under the Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms).
- At that time, these posts were called President and Deputy President respectively, and this practice continued till the year 1947, the year of India’s independence.
- Under the Government of India Act, 1935, the names of President and Deputy President were changed to Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.
- After independence, the structure and functioning of the Parliament was further organized under the Indian Constitution, in which the role of the Protem Speaker also became extremely important.
- The role of the Protem Speaker is especially in the first meeting of the newly elected House, where they administer the oath to the new members and ensure the election of the new Speaker.
- The Protem Speaker is usually selected from among the most senior members of Parliament, who hold this post until the selection of a new Speaker.
- Thus, the Protem Speaker is an important pivot of Indian democracy, which helps in maintaining the smooth and well-organized functioning of the Parliament.
System of selection of Protem Speaker in India
- The Protem Speaker is appointed by the President of India or the Governor. The President or the Governor administers the oath of office to the temporary Speaker.
- According to tradition, the most senior member is appointed as the temporary Speaker with the consent of the Assembly members, who serves until a permanent Speaker is elected.
Duties of the Protem Speaker
- To preside over the first meeting of the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assemblies.
- To administer the oath of office to newly elected MPs or MLAs.
- Conducting voting to elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
- Conducting floor test to prove the majority of the government.