Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla tests positive, no Deputy Speaker to preside over House

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 21

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today tested positive for Covid-19 and was admitted to the AIIMS, New Delhi, with the hospital clarifying that his parameters were stable.

This would be the first instance in the Lok Sabha’s history when there would be no Deputy Speaker to preside over the House in the absence of the Speaker, who can deal with administrative matters from home even as he goes into Covid-related self-isolation.

Parliament sources said the Speaker in consultation with the government and the opposition was likely to appoint an MP from among the panel of presiding officers to chair the House proceedings. Among the panel members are BJD’s Bhartruhari Mahtab and BJP’s Rajendra Agarwal and Meenakshi Lekhi.

The 17th Lok Sabha has not yet had an election for the Deputy Speaker’s post.

A Lok Sabha secretariat source said, “In this case the post of the Speaker is not vacant.”

The House may decide mostly from one among a panel of Chairpersons to preside over proceedings. Such a view would emanate after due discussion with the Speaker in consultation with Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and may be with other leaders of the House.

The occasion for the President appointing a person to act as the Speaker may not arise because the Speaker is not even incapacitated and as regards decisions on admissibility of notices, administrative matters go, the Speaker can continue to function.”