The opposition is preparing to bring a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Opposition parties are preparing to bring a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to remove him. According to the report of The Hindu, this was discussed in the India Block meeting organized by Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. Many reasons have been cited behind this. For example, during the discussion on the motion of thanks after the President’s address, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to speak in the House.
During the first week of the budget session, Speaker Om Birla suspended eight opposition MPs, including seven Congress MPs. Last week, proceedings were adjourned several times and opposition members protested. The members were demanding answers from the government regarding the 2020 India-China conflict after excerpts from the unpublished memoirs of former Army Chief MM Naravane were published in a magazine. Now the question arises that how is the Lok Sabha speaker removed and what is its entire process?
Process to remove Lok Sabha Speaker
The report has quoted sources as claiming that the proposal is being brought under Article 94-C of the Constitution. It is preparing to give notice to remove the Speaker, stop the leader of the opposition from speaking in the House on the motion of thanks, not initiate action against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, make baseless allegations against Congress women MPs and bring a motion against suspending eight opposition MPs.
The process of removing the Lok Sabha Speaker is mentioned in Article 94 of the Indian Constitution. The rules say that the Lok Sabha Speaker can be removed only by a special resolution passed in the House. This process is associated with many conditions. To remove the Speaker, a proposal is first brought in the House. Notice of proposal has to be given 14 days in advance.
The special thing is that this proposal is implemented only when at least 50 members of the Lok Sabha support it. Without minimum support the proposal is not accepted in the House. Signatures of 50 members are mandatory in the notice given 14 days in advance. After accepting the notice, the Speaker sets a day to discuss it. The date of discussion cannot exceed 10 days.
If a simple majority of the MPs present and voting in the Lok Sabha are in favor of the motion, then the Speaker is removed from the post. In its voting process, 2/3 majority is not required like in constitutional amendment. Only majority is enough.
Will the Speaker take part in the discussion of the removal motion?
No, on any day when the proposal to remove the Lok Sabha Speaker is discussed, the Speaker does not preside over it. The Deputy Speaker conducts the proceedings of the member.
If the motion is passed, the Speaker has to step down immediately, but he remains an MP, but not the Speaker. After this process the new Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected. If we look at the history of Lok Sabha, there is not a single case when the Speaker has been removed.
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