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250 Words15 Marks
Q.‘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 implications for the robust functioning of parliamentary business in India?
UPSC Mains 2020•Polity
Model Answer
View this Question In PYQ RealmSyllabus Point
- Parliament and State Legislatures — Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising out of these.
Approach
- Introduction (30-40 words): Define the role of the Speaker in India and introduce the concept of "Once a Speaker, Always a Speaker."
- Body (80-90 words): Discuss impartiality, implications, challenges, and comparative perspectives.
- Conclusion (20 words): Provide a balanced conclusion.
Model Answer
Introduction
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a pivotal office in India's parliamentary democracy, responsible for regulatory, administrative, and judicial functions. However, the office is often marred by allegations of partisan bias due to the Speaker's ongoing political affiliations.
Body Analysis
Features of the British Speaker ("Once a Speaker, Always a Speaker")
- Strict Neutrality: The position carries immense prestige and strict neutrality. By convention, once elected, the Speaker resigns from their political party to ensure complete impartiality.
- Security of Tenure: Their electoral constituency is left uncontested by major political parties in subsequent elections, ensuring security of tenure.
- Disciplinary Authority: The Speaker only votes in the event of a tie (casting vote) and holds ultimate disciplinary authority.
Implications of Adopting this System in India
- Enhanced Impartiality: It would insulate the office from party politics, fostering trust among opposition members and ensuring fair parliamentary debates.
- Security of Tenure: It would allow the Speaker to act independently without fear of political repercussions or the need to appease the ruling party.
- Challenges:
- Impact on Representation: An uncontested seat might undermine representative democracy for the voters of that constituency.
- Monopoly of Office: Holding the post for life or extended periods might block fresh perspectives and alternative leadership.
- Accountability: High autonomy requires robust accountability mechanisms to prevent the misuse of power.
Pathways for Reform in India
- The Irish Model: In Ireland, the Speaker is automatically re-elected but must relinquish active political ambitions.
- Post-Retirement Restrictions: To prevent conflict of interest, Speakers could be barred from holding future political offices (except the Presidency) while being compensated with a lifelong pension.
- Independent Tribunals: Disqualification decisions under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law) should be shifted from the Speaker to an independent tribunal to avoid political bias.
- Discretionary Limits: Clear timelines should be established for the Speaker to decide on matters of resignation, disqualification, or floor tests.
Conclusion
Adopting the British convention of 'Once a Speaker, Always a Speaker' would significantly bolster the neutrality of the office. By securing the Speaker's tenure, they can act as a true custodian of the House rather than a party loyalist.
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