What are the powers and functions of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

Vidhan Sabha Speaker

The Presiding Officer of the Legislative Assembly is called the Speaker. The Speaker is elected by the members of the House. The Speaker must be a member of the House. A member who holds the office of the Speaker & the Deputy Speaker vacates his office if he ceases to be a member of the House. He can also resign his office at any time when he wants to. If the Speaker resigns the letter of resignation is addressed to the Deputy Speaker.

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The Speaker does not vacate his office on the dissolution of the House. He continues in office until immediately before the first meeting of the House after the dissolution. The Speaker & Deputy Speaker can be removed from office on a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the House. But no such resolution can be moved unless 14 days notice for moving such a resolution is given. However, reasons for removal should be explicit. The President Officer may not allow motion to be moved if the charges leveled against the Speaker or the deputy Speaker are vague.

The Speaker or the deputy Speaker is not to preside at any sitting of the Assembly while any resolution for his removal is under consideration. But he has the right to sit in the House to defend himself & is entitled to vote in the first instance on such a resolution. At that moment he has no casting vote. The Speaker & the Deputy Speaker are paid salaries & allowances as fixed by the State Legislature by law. Those are charged on the Consolidation Fund of the state.

Power and Functions of the Vidhan Sabha Speaker

The functions and power of the state Speaker are almost the same as those of the Speaker of Lok sabha. His functions & powers are as follows.

1. He is required to preserve order & decorum in the House for conducting Legislative business.
2. He allocates time for different kinds of business in the House.
3. He interprets the rules & procedure.
4. He puts matters to vote & announces the result.
5. He has the right of casting vote in case of a tie.
6. He admits motions, resolutions & points of order.
7. He is empowered to adjourn the meeting of the House in the absence of a quorum.
8. He can order expunction of indecent & incriminatory references.
9. He allows the members to speak in the House.
10. He may name a member & ask him to leave the House in case of disorderly behavior.
11. He can adjourn the House in case of grave disorder or serious matter.
12. He is to cast a Bill after it is passed by the House.

He accepts & rejects the resignation of a member of the House after ascertaining whether it was submitted under duress or not.