Pro-Tem Speaker

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Pro-Tem Speaker

Pro-Tem Speaker

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A Pro tem Speaker (or “Provisional/Temporary Speaker”) is a short‑term, interim presiding officer appointed to conduct the first sitting of a newly constituted Lok Sabha (or legislative assembly) — until a permanent Speaker is elected.

Why Pro tem Speaker is Necessary?

As per constitutional provisions, the Speaker of the outgoing Lok Sabha vacates the office immediately before the first sitting of the newly elected Lok Sabha. Hence, the President appoints a member of the Lok Sabha as the Speaker Pro Tem.

Factly

G.V. Mavlankar was the first Pro Tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Seth Govind Das served as the Speaker Pro Tem in the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Lok Sabhas.
Inderjit Gupta held the position of Pro Tem Speaker during the Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Lok Sabhas, matching the rare distinction of serving in four successive Lok Sabhas.

Appointment and Tenure of Speaker Pro Tem

The Pro tem Speaker is appointed by the President of India .
The Constitution does not explicitly mention the post of Speaker pro tem. However, the official Handbook on the Working of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs outlines the procedure for the Appointment and Swearing-in of the Speaker pro tem.
- The handbook states when the Speaker post falls vacant before a new Lok Sabha, the duties of the Speaker are to be performed by a Member of the House appointed for this purpose by the President as Speaker pro tem.
According to the handbook, the seniormost members of the House (in terms of number of years of membership of the House) are generally selected for this role, although there have been exceptions.
Tenure: When the new Speaker is elected by the House, the office of the Speaker Pro Tem ceases to exist. Hence, it is a temporary position that exists only for a few days.

How is the pro-tem Speaker chosen?

The Pro-tem Speaker is appointed by the President of India under a well-established convention.
According to the Handbook on the Working of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, when the office of the Speaker falls vacant before a newly elected Lok Sabha meets, the duties of the Speaker are to be performed by a Member of the House appointed for this purpose by the President as the Speaker pro-tem.
Normally, in addition to the Pro-tem Speaker, the President also appoints three other elected members of the Lok Sabha before whom the newly elected MPs can take their oaths.
Key points on selection process:
- Once the new government is formed, the Legislative I Section of the Government of India prepares a list of the senior most Lok Sabha members. This list is submitted to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs or the Prime Minister to identify an MP to be appointed as Speaker pro-tem, along with three other members for administering oaths.
- After receiving the Prime Minister’s approval, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs obtains the consent of the selected members. A formal note is then submitted to the President, seeking approval for the appointments and deciding the date and time of the swearing-in ceremony.
- Upon the President’s approval, the Ministry notifies the Speaker pro-tem and the other members of their appointments. The President administers the oath to the Speaker pro-tem at Rashtrapati Bhawan, who in turn administers the oath to the other three members in the Lok Sabha.

Powers and Functions

The Speaker Pro Tem possesses all the powers of the Speaker and presides over the first sitting of the newly-elected Lok Sabha.
The Speaker pro-tem administers the oath/affirmation to the newly elected members with the help of the other three members.
He/she also facilitates the election of the new Speaker.

Significance for Parliamentary Democracy

The institution of Pro tem Speaker ensures the continuity of democratic procedures after elections.
It preserves institutional stability by ensuring that the process of constituting the House and electing its presiding officer follows constitutional traditions and established parliamentary practices.

The Pro-tem Speaker plays a crucial transitional role in the functioning of the newly elected Lok Sabha. Though the position is temporary, it ensures the smooth initiation of parliamentary proceedings by administering oaths to newly elected members and presiding over the House until the Speaker is formally elected. This office upholds the continuity of legislative functioning, reflecting the strength and maturity of India’s parliamentary democracy.

FAQs

Q1. What is the meaning of Pro Tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

A Pro Tem Speaker (or Provisional Speaker) is a temporary presiding officer appointed to conduct the first meeting of a newly elected Lok Sabha , until the new Speaker is elected.

Q2. Who appoints the Pro Tem Speaker?

The President of India appoints the Pro Tem Speaker from among the senior-most members of the newly elected Lok Sabha.

Q3. Is the post of Pro Tem Speaker mentioned in the Constitution?

No, the Constitution does not explicitly mention the post of Pro Tem Speaker.

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