Delhi High Court Seeks Centre's Reply On PIL Filed For Election Of Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha
The Delhi High Court today sought Centre's stand on a Public Interest Litigation filed for the election of Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha. The PIL alleged inaction on the part of Constitutional functionaries in holding elections for the post of Deputy Speaker.
The petition was filed by advocate Pawan Reley who contended that the post of Deputy Speaker has been vacant for the past two years which is also a violation of Article 93 of the Constitution.
Reley alleged "It has been 830 days that Deputy Speaker has not been elected. This is very serious."
The division bench comprising of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh informed 'We are not issuing notice…take instructions" to the Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma while hearing the plea which seeks a direction to the Speaker, Lok Sabha to fix any upcoming date to hold the election for the post of Deputy Speaker.
No discretion has been conferred on any authority for not electing a Deputy Speaker and Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha casts a primary duty on the Speaker to fix the date for holding the election of the Deputy Speaker.
The petition further read "The expression as soon as may be under Article 93 cannot, at any stretch of imagination, be extended by the Respondents to the substantial period 2 years and more...any further delay in electing Constitutional office of the Deputy Speaker will breach the collective trust in the Lok Sabha which is founded on the bedrock of the Constitutional trust."
The matter is listed for the next hearing on September 30.
With Inputs from PTI
