The Speaker of the Lok Sabha in India plays a crucial role in the functioning of the parliamentary system. The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. While the Speaker is primarily responsible for maintaining order in the house, deciding who may speak, and ensuring that the rules of the house are followed, they also have certain committee-related responsibilities.
- Business Advisory Committee (BAC):
- Role: The Business Advisory Committee is responsible for scheduling and regulating the business of the Lok Sabha. It helps in the allocation of time for various items of business, including debates, discussions, and consideration of bills.
- Composition: The Speaker is the ex-officio chairman of the Business Advisory Committee. The committee includes members from different political parties, and its composition reflects the proportional strength of various parties in the Lok Sabha.
- General Purposes Committee (GPC):
- Role: The General Purposes Committee is responsible for dealing with matters not specifically allotted to any other parliamentary committee. It looks into matters concerning the privileges of members, issues related to accommodation in Parliament House, and other general issues.
- Composition: The Speaker is the ex-officio chairman of the General Purposes Committee. Like other committees, it includes members from different political parties.
- House Committee:
- Role: The House Committee deals with matters concerning the amenities and facilities provided to members of the Lok Sabha. It looks after issues related to the housing of members, their medical facilities, and other related matters.
- Composition: The Speaker is the ex-officio chairman of the House Committee, and its members are drawn from various political parties represented in the Lok Sabha.
- Rules Committee:
- Role: The Rules Committee is responsible for reviewing and suggesting amendments to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha. It considers matters concerning the functioning of the Lok Sabha and recommends changes as necessary.
- Composition: The Speaker is the ex-officio chairman of the Rules Committee, and its members include representatives from different parties.
It’s important to note that while the Speaker is the ex-officio chairman of these committees, the actual functioning and decision-making involve the participation of members from different political parties. The committees play a vital role in ensuring the smooth conduct of parliamentary proceedings and addressing various administrative and procedural aspects of the Lok Sabha.
