List of speakers of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly

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Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly
Crest of West Bengal Legislative Assembly.jpg
Crest of West Bengal Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Biman Banerjee
since 30 May 2011
West Bengal Legislative Assembly
Style The honourable
StatusHead of the Legislative Assembly
Member ofWest Bengal Legislative Assembly
Seat Bidhan Bhavan, B. B. D. Bagh, Kolkata
AppointerMembers of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly
Term length maximum 5 years unless dissolved
Constituting instrument Constitution of India
PrecursorSpeaker of Bengal Legislative Assembly (British India)
Formation1950
First holder Ishwar Das Jalan
(21 November 1947—19 June 1952)
Deputy Asish Banerjee (2021–present)
Salaryas per fixed by legislation law

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.

Contents

The current Speaker of the in 17th West Bengal Legislative Assembly is Biman Banerjee and the Deputy Speaker is Asish Banerjee. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

List of speakers

Bengal Legislative Assembly

Speaker of the Bengal Legislative Assembly
NoPortraitSpeakersTerm StartTerm End
Legislative Assembly under the Government of India Act 1935.
1 Sir-M-Azizul-Huq.jpg Sir Azizul Haque 7 April 193727 April 1942
2 Syed Nausher Ali 1 March 194314 May 1946
3 Nurul Amin.jpg Nurul Amin 14 May 194615 August 1947
President of the Bengal Legislative Assembly
NoPresidentsTerm StartTerm End
1 Satyendra Chandra Mitra 9 April 193727 October 1942
2 Bijoy Prasad Singh Roy 19431947

West Bengal Legislative Assembly

Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly
NoSpeakersTerm StartTerm End
Legislative Assembly under the Government of India Act 1935.
1 Ishwar Das Jalan 21 November 194719 June 1952
Legislative Assembly under the Constitution of India
2 Saila Kumar Mukherjee 20 June 195220 March 1957
3 Sankar Das Banerji 4 June 195715 May 1959
4 Bankim Chandra Kar 22 February 196011 March 1962
5 Keshab Chandra Basu 12 March 19627 March 1967
6 Bijoy Kumar Banerjee 8 March 19672 May 1971
7 Apurba Lal Majumdar 3 May 197123 June 1977
8 S. A. M. Habibullah 24 June 197713 June 1982
9 Hashim Abdul Halim 14 June 198229 May 2011
10 Biman Banerjee 30 May 2011Incumbent

Deputy Speaker

Pro tem Speaker

After a general election and the formation of a new government, a list of senior Members in Vidhan Sabha prepared by the Legislative Section is submitted to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, who selects a pro tem speaker who holds the office of Speaker until a full time speaker is elected. The appointment has to be approved by the Governor. [7]

The first meeting after the election when the speaker and the deputy speaker are selected by members of the Vidhan Sabha is held under the pro tem Speaker. In the absence of the speaker, the deputy speaker acts as speaker. In the absence of both, a committee of six members selected by the speaker will act as speaker according to their seniority.

The Speaker of the Assembly must:

List of Pro tem Speakers

NoProtem SpeakersSpeakers
1 Ishwar Das Jalan
2 Saila Kumar Mukherjee
3 Sankar Das Banerji
4 Bankim Chandra Kar
5 Keshab Chandra Basu
6 Bijoy Kumar Banerjee
7 Apurba Lal Majumdar
8 S. A. M. Habibullah
9 Hashim Abdul Halim
10 Gyan Singh Sohanpal/Subrata Mukherjee Biman Banerjee

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. [8]

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. [9]

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. [10] He should be mentally sound and should not be bankrupt. He should also state an affidavit that there are no criminal procedures against him. [9] [8]

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. [9]

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. [9] [8]

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. [8]

Although the members of Vidhan Sabha represent their constituencies, the Speaker represents the whole Assembly. [8]

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. [8]

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. [8]

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. [8]

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. [11] [8]

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. [11]

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. [12]

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. [12] [8]

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. [8]

He is the customary head of the Vidhan Sabha and an arbiter. His decisions are final and cannot be challenged. [8]

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. [8]

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. [8]

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. [13] [8]

See also

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References

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  2. Biman Banerjee elected West Bengal assembly speaker. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  3. West Bengal: Biman Banerjee nominated for Speaker, Sonali Guha for Dy Speaker. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  4. West Bengal Assembly Speaker Hashim Abdul Halim wants to retire Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  5. "Biman Bandopadhyay files papers for Speaker's post". The Hindu. PTI. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  6. West Bengal – Shri Hashim Abdul Halim, M.L.A.. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  7. Ashok, Akash Deep (4 June 2014). "Pro tem Speaker: All you need to know about this parliamentary post". India Today. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 The Office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Article 178 — Part VI of the Constitution of India. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  10. Johari, J. C. (2000). Indian Political System. New Delhi: Anmol Publications. pp. 150–2. ISBN   81-7488-162-X.. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  11. 1 2 Article 179 — Part VI of the Constitution of India. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  12. 1 2 Article 181 — Part VI of the Constitution of India. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  13. Article 186 — Part VI of the Constitution of India. Retrieved 31 August 2011.