‘Once a Speaker, Always a Speaker’! Do you think this practice should be adopted to impart objectivity to the office of the Speaker of Lok Sabha? What could be its implications for the robust functioning of parliamentary business in India?

Theme

T95 Presiding officers & anti-defection

What UPSC asks in this theme

Questions ask whether the Speaker is vulnerable to partisanship under anti-defection, 'once a Speaker always a Speaker', and presiding officers' role in order and impartiality.

What to cover

• Speaker's powers; Tenth Schedule decisions
• Kihoto Hollohan; Keisham Meghachandra (time-bound decisions)
• UK convention of neutrality
• Reforms: independent tribunal for disqualification

Writing the answer

• Compare with UK; suggest reforms

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 3 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.