A resolution seeking the removal of Om Birla as Speaker of the Lok Sabha is scheduled to be taken up when the House meets on March 9 as part of the ongoing Budget Session.
Opposition members have alleged
that Birla has acted in a “partisan” manner while presiding over the House.
The development comes after repeated confrontations between the government and opposition benches during the first phase of the Budget Session.
Here is what the Constitution and parliamentary procedure say about the process, and what is expected to happen in the House.
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS ABOUT REMOVING A SPEAKER
Under the Constitution, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha can be removed from office through a resolution passed by the House.
Once a notice of such a resolution is listed for consideration, the House must first determine whether there is adequate support to take up the motion.
According to parliamentary procedure, when the Chair calls the notice, at least 50 members of the Lok Sabha must stand in support of it.
If 50 MPs stand up in favour of the notice, the motion is considered admitted and can then be taken up for discussion in the House.
A debate follows, after which the resolution is put to a vote.
If the motion secures the required majority in the House, the Speaker can be removed from office.
The Constitution also provides that while the motion is under discussion, the Speaker cannot preside over the proceedings of the House.
However, the Speaker is allowed to be present in the House, defend himself, and vote on the resolution.
In this case, the notice has been submitted by three Congress MPs, Mohamed Jawed, Kodikunnil Suresh, and Mallu Ravi.
According to the Lok Sabha agenda for March 9, the proposed resolution is the only item listed as the day’s business.
WHAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN IN LOK SABHA TODAY
When the Lok Sabha reconvenes after the recess, the notice seeking the removal of Om Birla will be taken up.
Both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress have issued a three-line whip asking their Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House when the matter is considered.
Opposition parties claim that at least 118 MPs have submitted the notice seeking the Speaker’s removal.
Despite this, the numbers in the Lok Sabha are heavily stacked in favour of the government, which means the motion is expected to be defeated if it reaches the voting stage.
WHAT THE OPPOSITION HAS ALLEGED
Opposition members have accused the Speaker of acting in a manner that they claim undermines his constitutional duty to remain impartial.
In their notice, they alleged that Birla disallowed Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders from speaking in the House.
They also accused him of making “unwarranted allegations” against women MPs belonging to the opposition and of suspending opposition MPs for an entire session for raising issues of public concern.
The notice further alleged that the Speaker did not rebuke ruling party members for making objectionable remarks against former prime ministers and claimed that Birla had “openly espoused the version of the ruling party on all controversial matters”.
According to the opposition, these actions show that he has ceased to maintain the impartiality required to command the confidence of all sections of the House.
WHAT TRIGGERED THE ROW IN PARLIAMENT
The confrontation between the government and the opposition intensified during the first part of the Budget Session after Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from an unpublished memoir of former Army chief MM Naravane relating to the 2020 India-China standoff.
The reference was disallowed by the Chair, leading to protests by opposition members.
The session witnessed repeated disruptions, and eight opposition MPs were suspended for unruly behaviour.
Amid the protests, an unusual situation arose when the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address was passed by voice vote without the customary reply by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaker Om Birla had also said he received information that some Congress MPs might carry out an “unexpected act” near the Prime Minister’s seat, and therefore asked Modi not to come to the House to deliver his speech. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra rejected this claim.
WHAT PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI SAID
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly defended Om Birla, describing him as an outstanding parliamentarian and an excellent Speaker.
Speaking during a virtual address at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Kota airport, PM Modi said Birla functions above party lines and remains fully committed to the Constitution and parliamentary procedures.
The Prime Minister said Birla treats members from both the ruling side and the opposition equally and handles the House like the head of a family, respecting the sentiments and requests of MPs.
PM Modi added that even when some members create disruptions, Birla manages the situation patiently and continues to treat everyone with respect.
SUPPORT AND POLITICAL NUMBERS
The Trinamool Congress has said it will support the resolution against the Speaker and that most of its MPs will be present in the House during the proceedings.
Party leaders also said they are in touch with other members of the opposition INDIA bloc regarding the issue.
