Jonah Patel
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India and the world's longest written national constitution. It lays out the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. Interestingly, the Indian Constitution does not mention the post of Deputy Prime Minister, who is appointed by the President of India. This post is instead nominated by the Prime Minister of India.
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What You'll Learn
Deputy Prime Minister
The Deputy Prime Minister of India is not a constitutionally mandated position. Despite this, it is the second-highest ranking minister of the Union in the executive branch of the Government of India. The Deputy Prime Minister is a senior member of the Union Council of Ministers and contributes to key decision-making processes and policy formulation.
The Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the President of India and nominated by the Prime Minister, typically from among the senior members of the ruling party or coalition. The role of the Deputy Prime Minister is to assist the Prime Minister in various administrative, policy-making, and governance functions. They also deputise for the Prime Minister in their absence, assuming the role of the acting head of government.
The first Deputy Prime Minister of India was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was sworn in on 15 August 1947, when India gained independence from the British Raj. Serving until his death in December 1950, Patel remains India's longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister. The last person to serve as Deputy Prime Minister was Lal Krishna Advani, and the position has been vacant since 23 May 2004.
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Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India and the world's longest written national constitution. Despite its comprehensiveness, the Indian Constitution does not mention several posts, including the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha presides over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha in the absence of the Chairperson, who is the Vice President of India. The Deputy Chairman is elected by the Rajya Sabha itself and serves a six-year term. Harivansh Narayan Singh, an Indian journalist and politician, is the current Deputy Chairman, having been re-elected to the position in 2020. Singh is the third person to hold the position and the first in forty years who is not from the Indian National Congress.
The Rajya Sabha is an important component of the Indian Parliament, which is the supreme legislative body of the Indian government. The Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Rajya Sabha is composed of 245 members, who are indirectly elected by the legislative assemblies of the states and union territories, while the Lok Sabha is composed of 545 members, who are directly elected by Indian citizens.
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Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India and the world's longest written national constitution. Notably, the Indian Constitution does not contain a provision limiting the powers of the parliament to amend it. Interestingly, the Constitution does not mention the post of Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, or Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assemblies.
Now, focusing on the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha:
The Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected by a simple majority of members present and voting in the House, from among its members. The Deputy Speaker holds office until they are no longer a member of the Lok Sabha or they resign. They can also be removed from office by a resolution passed in the Lok Sabha by an effective majority of its members. This effective majority should be 50% or more than 50% of the total strength of the house, excluding vacancies. The Deputy Speaker is accountable for the Lok Sabha and, therefore, removed by the majority in the Lok Sabha only. Importantly, the Deputy Speaker does not need to resign from their original party, but they must remain impartial.
The position of Deputy Speaker has been vacant since May or June 2019, and the 17th Lok Sabha is the first and only one to lack a deputy speaker. In February 2023, Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud led a body seeking responses to public interest litigation, arguing that the prolonged vacancy goes against the "letter and spirit of the Constitution."
The first Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha was Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar, who served from 30 May 1952 until 7 March 1956.
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Deputy Speaker of State Legislative Assemblies
The Constitution of India is a comprehensive document that outlines the country's governance framework, including the roles and responsibilities of various institutions and officials. However, one notable omission in the Constitution is the mention of the "Deputy Speaker of State Legislative Assemblies." While the position exists and plays an important role in the functioning of state legislatures, it is not specifically outlined in the Constitution.
The role of the Deputy Speaker is crucial in the context of state legislative assemblies. In the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker presides over the assembly, maintains order, and ensures the smooth conduct of proceedings. They also have the authority to regulate procedural matters and guide the business of the house. The Deputy Speaker is expected to be impartial and non-partisan, focusing on facilitating efficient legislative processes.
The process of appointing a Deputy Speaker varies across states but generally follows a similar pattern. The position is usually filled by an elected member of the legislative assembly, chosen by their peers. The appointment is often made through a nomination or election process, with the specific procedure outlined in the rules of procedure of the respective state legislature.
While the Constitution does not specifically mention the post of Deputy Speaker, the position derives its authority and responsibilities from various articles and provisions within the Constitution. The conduct of business in state legislative assemblies is guided by the Rules of Procedure, which are framed based on the principles outlined in the Constitution. These rules often include provisions for the role and powers of the Deputy Speaker, filling the gap left by the Constitution's silence on the matter.
The absence of a specific mention of the Deputy Speaker's post in the Constitution can be attributed to the drafters' focus on establishing a robust framework for the higher offices and institutions. The Constitution meticulously outlines the roles and responsibilities of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and other key positions. However, certain positions in the state legislatures, including the Deputy Speaker, were left to be defined by the respective state legislative bodies.
Despite the Constitution's silence on the post, the position of Deputy Speaker of State Legislative Assemblies is an important one. They play a crucial role in maintaining the efficient functioning of state legislatures and ensuring the smooth conduct of legislative business. While the specific procedures and powers may vary across states, the overall role of the Deputy Speaker remains consistent, contributing to the democratic process and the effective governance of Indian states.
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No post mentioned
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India and is the world's longest written national constitution. It lays down the framework for the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens.
Despite the Indian Constitution's specificity in spelling out government powers, there are several posts that are not mentioned in the document. One notable omission is the post of Deputy Prime Minister. The Deputy Prime Minister of India is appointed and can be removed by the President of India, and they are nominated by the Prime Minister. The first Deputy Prime Minister of India was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and the last was L. K. Advani. The current government does not have a Deputy Prime Minister.
In addition to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Constitution also does not mention the posts of Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, or Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assemblies.
While the Constitution of India does not contain a provision to limit the powers of the parliament to amend it, the Supreme Court has ruled that certain features of the Constitution are so integral that they cannot be removed. This indicates that while the Constitution may not explicitly mention certain posts, the roles and responsibilities associated with those posts may still be governed by the principles and provisions outlined in the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of India does not mention the post of Deputy Prime Minister.
The Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the President of India.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the first Deputy Prime Minister of India.
L. K. Advani was the last Deputy Prime Minister of India.
