News Highlight
- Deepening the political divide in the monsoon session of Parliament, 19 opposition MPs were suspended for a week from Rajya Sabha.
News Takeaways:
- The suspension was for disrupting House proceedings while pressing for an urgent discussion on price rises and the hike in GST rates.
What is the reason for suspending an MP?
- The general principle is that it is the role and duty of the Presiding Officer (Speaker of Lok Sabha and Chairman of Rajya Sabha ) to maintain order so that the House can function smoothly.
- In order to ensure that proceedings are conducted in the proper manner, the Speaker/ Chairman is empowered to force a member to withdraw from the House.
What are the rules under which the Presiding Officer acts?
- Rule Number 373 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.
- If the speaker believes that the conduct of any member is grossly disorderly, he may direct such member to withdraw immediately from the House.
- Rule 374 (1) says.
- The Speaker may name a member who disregards the Chair’s authority or abuses the House’s rules by persistently and willfully obstructing the business thereof.
- Rule 374 (2) says:
- Â If a member is so named by the Speaker, on a motion being made forthwith, put the question that the member is suspended from the service of the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session
- Rule 374 (3) says:
- A member who is suspended according to this rule must leave the House immediately.
- According to Rule 374A (1),
- In the event of serious disorder occasioned by a member coming into the well of the house, such Member shall stand automatically suspended from the service of the House for five consecutive sittings or the remainder of the session, whichever is less.
- According to Rule 374A (2)
- The member shall immediately leave the House precincts upon the Speaker’s announcement of the suspension according to this rule.
Speaker
- The Office of the Speaker occupies a pivotal position in our parliamentary democracy.
- He is mentioned under Article 93 of the Indian Constitution.
- He/She symbolises the dignity and power of the House over which he/she is presiding.
- Term of OfficeÂ
- Speaker holds office from the date of his/her election till immediately before the first meeting of the Lok Sabha after the dissolution of the one to which he/she was elected.
- The Speaker may resign from office by writing under his/her hand to the Deputy Speaker.Â
- The Speaker can be removed from office only by a resolution of the House passed by a majority of all the then members of the House.
- Election of a Speaker
- The Speaker is elected from among its members by a simple majority of the members present and voting in the House.
- Qualification
- As such, no specific qualifications are prescribed for being elected Speaker.Â
- The Constitution only requires  Speaker should be a member of the House.
- The Speaker in the Chair
- He/she is guided by the provisions of the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.Â
- In the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker discharges his/her functions.
- Regulating the Business of the House Â
- The Speaker is the guardian of the rights and privileges of the House, its Committees and members.
- It is the Speaker who decides the form and manner in which the proceedings of the House are published. Â
- The Speaker and the committees
- The Committees of the House function under the overall direction of the Speaker.
- All such committees are constituted by him/her or by the House. The Chairmen of all Parliamentary Committees are nominated by him/her.
- Speaker’s Administrative Role  Â
- The Speaker is the head of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, which functions under his/her ultimate control and direction.
Pic Courtesy: Parliamentofindia.nic.in
Source: The Hindu