Speaker

The Speaker is the elected presiding officer of the Lok Sabha, responsible for ensuring that its meetings are fair, orderly, and conducted according to parliamentary rules.

• The Speaker decides who may speak, recognises members who wish to ask questions or join a debate, and makes sure that every side has a chance to be heard.
• If members interrupt, use unsuitable language, or create disorder, the Speaker can ask them to stop and may take action under the rules of the House.
• The Speaker is expected to act impartially. Although elected as an MP and usually linked to a political party, the Speaker’s duty is to protect the rights of both the government and the opposition during proceedings.
• A particularly important power involves deciding whether a proposed law is a Money Bill—a bill mainly dealing with taxes, government spending, or borrowing. The Speaker’s decision on this question is final.
• For example, Sumitra Mahajan served as Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2019. Like other Speakers, she guided debates among representatives from many different states, languages, and political parties.
• The Speaker’s chair represents the idea that Parliament works through rules, discussion, and equal opportunity to speak, rather than through the loudest voice in the room.