Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly

The Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly is the title given to the presiding officer (chair) of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The Speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, etc. The Speaker decides who may speak and has the powers to discipline members who break the procedures of the Assembly. The Speaker often also represents the body in person, as the voice of the body in ceremonial and some other situations. Many bodies also have a speaker pro tempore or deputy speaker, designated to fill in when the speaker is not available.

The current Speaker of the West Bengal Vidhan Sabha is Biman Banerjee and the current Deputy Speaker is Haider Aziz Safwi who replaced Sonali Guha, who had been Speaker since May 2011, in May 2016.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Election of the Speaker

In the Vidhan Sabha, a simple majority vote in the Assembly in which all present members participate determine both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker — the presiding officers — who are also its members.

The party in power proposes the name of their candidate after its candidate after titular hearings with Leaders of other Parties who are a part of the Assembly. This ensures that the Speaker is accepted by all political Parties belonging to the Assembly. The name of the candidate determined by the party in power is usually proposed by the Chief Minister or the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. The pro-tem Speaker chairs the session in which the election for the post of the Speaker takes place.

The Deputy Speaker chairs sessions where the election takes place towards the end of a Vidhan Sabha. Once the election is over, the person who is presiding declares the chosen candidate to be Speaker of the Assembly, without latter motions being voted upon. Once the final tally of votes is declared, the Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition escort the Speaker elect to the Chair. His speech, in which he thanks the Assembly, marks the start of the tenure of the new Speaker.^[7]

Qualifications required

The Speaker of the West Bengal Vidhan Sabha has to be an MLA. The current speaker, Biman Banerjee, is the MLA from the Baruipur Paschim constituency.^[8]

To become the Speaker of the West Bengal Vidhan Sabha, a person must be a citizen of India, not less than 25 years of age.^[9] He should be mentally sound and should not be bankrupt. He should also state an affidavit that there are no criminal procedures against him.^[8][7]

The Speaker is elected by other members of the Vidhan Sabha and is responsible for the conduct of business of the body. A Deputy Speaker to also elected to preside during the Speaker's absence. The Speaker acts as a neutral judge and manages all debates and discussions in the Assembly.^[8]

The Speaker can also initiate a motion of no confidence against the government in the state. If it is passed by a majority vote, then the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers must collectively resign.

The Speaker is supposed to resign from his original party because as a speaker, he has to remain impartial.^[8][7]

Role in the Legislative Assembly

The Speaker presides over the sessions of the Vidhan Sabha and conducts the business in the Assembly. He decides whether a bill is a money bill or a non-money bill. He maintains discipline and decorum in the Assembly and can punish a member for their unruly behaviour by suspending them. He permits the moving of various kinds of motions and resolutions like the motion of no confidence, motion of adjournment, motion of censure and calling attention notice as per the rules. The Speaker decides on the agenda to be taken up for discussion during the meeting. The date of election of the Speaker is fixed by the Governor.^[7]

Although the members of Vidhan Sabha represent their constituencies, the Speaker represents the whole Assembly.^[7]

While the office of Speaker is vacant, the duties of the office are performed by the Deputy Speaker or, if the office of Deputy Speaker is also vacant, by such member of the Assembly as the Governor may appoint for the purpose.^[7]

During the absence of the Speaker from any sitting of the Assembly the Deputy Speaker or, if he is also absent, such person as may be determined by the Assembly, or, if no such person is present, such other person as may be determined by the Assembly, shall act as Speaker.^[7]

Term of office

The term of office of the Speaker ranges from the day he is elected to the dissolution of the Vidhan Sabha. When the Assembly is dissolved, the Speaker terminates his tenure as a member of the Assembly, but does not quit his position as Speaker. He stands eligible for re-election.^[7]

A member holding office as Speaker or Deputy Speaker of an Assembly shall vacate his office if his tenure as member of the Assembly is terminated; or may at any time by writing under his hand addressed, if such members is the Speaker, to the Deputy Speaker, and if such member is the Deputy Speaker, to the Speaker, resign his office; and may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Assembly provided that no resolution shall be moved unless at least fourteen days' notice has been given.^[10][7]

Further, whenever the Assembly is dissolved, the speaker shall not vacate his office until immediately prior to the Vidhan Sabha's first meeting after the dissolution.^[10]

At any sitting of the Legislative Assembly, while any resolution for the removal of the Speaker from his office is under consideration, the Speaker, or while any resolution for the removal of the Deputy Speaker from his office is under consideration, the Deputy Speaker, shall not, though he is present, preside, and during the absence of the Speaker from any sitting of the Assembly the Deputy Speaker in relation to every such sitting as they apply in relation to a sitting from which the Speaker or, as the case may be, the Deputy Speaker, is absent.^[11]

The Speaker shall have the right to speak and take part in discussions in the Legislative Assembly while any resolution for his removal from office is under consideration in the Assembly and shall be entitled to vote only in the first instance on such resolution or on any other matter during such proceedings but not in the case of an equality of votes.^[11][7]

The Speaker's chair

In the Vidhan Sabha Chamber, the Speaker, from his seat, gets the complete view of the Assembly. He is helped by the senior officials belonging to the West Bengal Secretariat. The Deputy Speaker chairs the sitting when the Speaker is absent. If both the Speakers cannot attend a session, a member of the Panel of Chairmen chairs the Assembly.^[7]

He is the customary head of the Vidhan Sabha and an arbiter. His decisions are final and cannot be challenged.^[7]

Speaker and the Committees

The Speaker constitutes all Committees of the Assembly. He nominates the Chairpersons of all the Parliamentary Committees. Political problems hampering the functioning of Committees are consulted with him for directions. The Advisory Committee on Business, the Committee of General Purposes and the Committee of Rules fall under him.^[7]

Speaker and members

Apart from being the Chairperson of the Assembly, he is also a member of the Assembly. He is entrusted with wide-ranging punitive powers to help him maintain proper conduct in the Assembly. He is expected to give sufficient time to all members of the Assembly and help them get their views across. The Speaker also keeps communicating with members, leaders of parties, etc., in the Vidhan Sabha. He interacts with leaders of other parties at semi-formal meetings a day before the start of a session, to know their mood on a wide range of issues.^[7]

Salary

The salaries and allowances of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly are fixed by the Legislature of the State by law. Such salaries and allowances are specified in the Second Schedule.^[12][7]

References