News Excerpt:
The 18th Lok Sabha's inaugural session will run from June 24 to July 3, during which the new Speaker will be elected.Until a new Speaker is chosen, a pro-tem Speaker will be appointed to administer the oath to the newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs).
What is a Pro-tem Speaker?
- The term "pro-tem" originates from Latin, meaning "for the time being." Therefore, a pro-tem speaker is a temporary speaker appointed for a short duration to oversee the proceedings in the Lok Sabha or state legislatures.
- Article 94 of the Indian Constitution states that the Speaker's office is not vacated until just before the first meeting of the new House following a dissolution.
- Although the Constitution does not explicitly mention this role, the 'Handbook on the Working of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs' outlines the process for appointing and swearing in a pro-tem Speaker.
- In the new Lok Sabha, the Speaker is elected by a simple majority. Until this election occurs, a pro-tem Speaker is temporarily appointed to perform necessary duties.
Selection of the Pro-Tem Speaker
- A pro-tem speaker is selected with the consensus of the members of the Lok Sabha or legislative assembly.
- Typically, the most senior member of the house is appointed to this position. In this context, "seniority" refers to the length of membership in the House, not the age of the member.
Role of pro-tem Speaker
- The pro-tem speaker's role is to manage activities until the permanent speaker is elected.
- The primary duty of the pro-tem Speaker is to administer the oath to the new MPs, as stipulated by Article 99 of the Constitution.
- This article mandates that every MP must take an oath or affirmation before the President or a designated person before assuming their seat.
- Typically, three other elected members of the Lok Sabha are also appointed by the President to facilitate the oath-taking.
- Additionally, the pro-tem speaker facilitates the election of the new speaker.
- Once the new speaker is elected, the role of the pro-tem speaker concludes.
