Speaker Pro Tem

Pro- tem speaker can be understood as the Latin phrase that says “for time being” it means only for a particular period. The appointment of the pro-tem speaker is on a temporary basis. The president or governor appoints pro tem speakers in the parliament of India. He is provided with the responsibility to carry out the specific function during the parliament session. Pro-tem speakers can be selected on a temporary basis to handle the responsibility of parliaments after the conduction of the general election. The speaker of the houses vacates his position before the establishment of newly elected houses. Pro-tem speaker’s responsibility is very crucial in the legislative assembly

Pro-tem speaker: overview

Pro-tem speaker is the senior-most speaker selected by the governor or president of India in the houses of parliament. A Pro-tem speaker is appointed every time after the election in India and the MLA of newly elected members accompanies houses. Pro-tem speakers are appointed on a temporary basis and administer various functions. The pro-tem speaker’s responsibility also includes carrying out the directions issued by the Supreme Court or high courts. The pro-tem speaker who sits in the houses of parliament has to vacate his position just before the sitting of current elected members. The selection of the pro-tem speaker is based on the years of experience in the field of politics as well as the age factor of the individual. In the 17th session of LokSabha, Dr Virendra Kumar was appointed as pro-tem speaker.

First pro-tem speaker of India

The pro-tem speaker is handed the position to manage the workings of houses of parliament and assist in the smooth coordination between the MLA of different parties in Loksabha. He is also known as the presiding officer and serves for the highest position in the Loksabha. In Indian history, the first pro-tem speaker was appointed under provisions of article 93 of the constitution of India in the year 1952. The first pro-tem speaker of the Loksabha is Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar. He was appointed as the speaker of Loksabha on May 15, 1992.  Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar served the position of pro-tem speaker from the year 1952 to 1956. The president of the constituent assembly of India appointed him.

List of pro-tem speaker in Indian parliament (LOK SABHA)

After the independence of India, parties were formed for the election process and elected democratically. Since 1950, there have been 17 pro- tem speakers. However, the pro tem speaker is appointed for a temporary period and can be further reappointed as the speaker of the Loksabha.

Table 1: List of pro-tem speakers

Responsibility of pro-tem speaker: 

The term pro-tem speaker shows for a temporary period. After the results of the general election, newly elected members, the previous speaker acts as the pro-tem speaker, occupy the houses or sometimes the president or governor appoints the new protem speaker. The main responsibility of the pro-tem speaker is to administer the oaths of members of the parliamentary houses (Loksabha). Furthermore, the responsibility of the pro-tem speaker is also prescribed by monitoring the activities of the houses. Furthermore, the responsibility of the pro-tem speaker also includes managing the affairs of voting procedure for the election of a speaker or deputy speaker.

Conclusion 

A pro-tem speaker is appointed every time after the general elections to manage the affairs of new members’ houses for a temporary period. The former pro-tem speaker has to vacate the office and the president or governor elects the new speaker. Furthermore, the pro-tem speaker is appointed to manage the oath procedures of the newly elected members in the Loksabha. When the new speaker is elected the pro-tem speaker’s existence ceases. There may be a possibility that the Member of Parliament reappoints the pro-tem speaker as the new speaker. Pro-tem speakers play an important role in managing the oath and in the voting procedures.