GS2 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Speaker of Lok Sabha | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

‘‘Once a Speaker always a speaker’! Do you think this practice should be adopted to impart objectivity to the office of the speaker of Lok Sabha? What could be its implication for the robust functioning of parliamentary business in India? (UPSC GS2 Mains)

Speaker holds important position in the Indian parliament. Speaker is the head of the LokSabha and its representative. Speaker is vested with vast, varied and vital responsibilities. But in the recent times it has been seen that the role of speaker has been severely criticized because of various issues.
Issues 

• Role of speaker has been criticized for favoring political parties and remaining biased to the party in majority as speaker are usually elected to the house on a political party’s ticket. So there exists a political liability on the speaker to favor his party and he/she does not able maintain impartiality 
• Discretionary power of speaker in case of declaration of bill as money bill. For example this power came under criticism when Aadhar bill was introduced as money bill in LokSabha. 
• In recent times, role of speaker has been questioned for disqualification of MLAs under the Antidefection law. 
• Less time is allotted to opposition members in the house to debate and discuss. Possible reasons for biasness exists because speaker belongs to ruling party - he works under a fear and favor of the ruling party. Unlike, in UK the speaker is strictly a nonparty man. There is a convention that speaker has to resign from his party and remain politically neutral. 
• So there is need to adopt the principle of Once a Speaker always a speaker in order to infuse greater objectivity and impartiality in the functioning of parliamentary business in India. India should adopt the UK system - Speaker should resign from his party and be political neutral. But this is not the only reform required. 
• Other reforms like: 
• Power of Disqualification under Anti-defection law should be transferred to Election Commission of India. 
• Power to declare a bill as money bill should be decided by a committee of parliament. This will bring transparency and objectivity in the process. 
• Implications It will lead to more comprehensive discussions and debates in the parliaments. 
• It will lead to objective interpretation of issues rather than subjective interpretation. 
• Balanced emphasis to the opposition parties -by giving greater opportunity in voicing their concerns on government policies and actions 
• Ultimately it will bring more credibility to the institution of speaker. 

Conclusion 
The speaker enjoys great honour, high dignity and supreme authority within the house. Thus impartiality of the office is very important to make the parliamentary democracy work in true sense.

Topics Covered - Speaker in Lok Sabha and State Legislatures