The Parliament of India is a supreme legislative body composed of the President and the two houses named the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of People).
Lok Sabha (House of the People) or the lower house has 545 members, 543 of which are directly elected by the voters of India and 2 members are appointed by the President from the Anglo-Indian Community.
The speaker of Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) is the presiding officer of the House who conducts its business, maintains decorousness, decides whether or not a bill could be a money bill or not and decides on the agenda to be concerned for discussion throughout the meeting.
The Speaker of Lok Sabha is elected from amongst its own members. Usually, he/she is from the ruling party or alliance. Once the House meets for the primary time after the election, the senior most member is appointed Speaker pro-tem by the President. He administers the oath of the workplace to all the elected members. Then he conducts the election of the Speaker of the House.
MPs propose a name to pro tem speaker. These names are notified to President of India. President through their aid Secretary-General notifies the election date. If only 1 name is projected, Speaker is elected with no formal vote. However, if more than one nominations are received. A division (vote) is termed. MPs vote for his or her candidate on such date notified by the President. The booming candidate is elected as Speaker of the Lok Sabha till next election.
Role of the Protem Speaker
Operative person on the chair of the speaker of the Lok Sabha on state Legislative Assemblies, temporarily holding the post is called the Pro-tem speaker. He has to work for a limited Period, till the new speaker and deputy speakers are elected after the election. When Newly elected house is yet to elect its speaker, so to run activities of the House till the speaker is elected, the House chooses one of them with an agreement to work as a Pro tem speaker. Even of the other situations, when the posts of the speaker and deputy speaker lie vacant due to death resignation etc.
A Protem speaker is elected to handle the activities of the House. The powers regarding the Pro tem speakers are not clarified but this is very clear that Pro tem speaker does not have as much power as the permanent speaker has. He cannot or at least does not exercise the serious powers of the speaker like defection etc. But in regular routine work, he enjoys the same position power and privilege and immunities as that of a regular speaker.
Duty of a Pro-tem Speaker is to administer the oath of office to new members of the house. He also enables the House to elect the new Speaker.
Once the new Speaker is elected, the office of the pro tem speaker ceases to exist. He also administers the floor test.
