Delhi High Court seeks response from Central govt in plea challenging non-appointment of Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed counsel for the Central government to seek instructions on a petition challenging the non-appointment of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha for a period of 830 days [Pawan Reley v. Speaker, Lok Sabha & Ors]..A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh will hear the matter next on September 30.Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma said that he would seek instructions and confirm the non-appointment of the Deputy Speaker..Advocate Pawan Reley, appearing in-person, submitted that this is the longest period of vacancy witnessed for this office. He said that it was the primary duty of the Speaker to fix a date for the election of the Deputy Speaker and added,"Article 93 of the Constitution read with Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha puts a mandatory constitutional obligation on the House of the People after date fixed by the Speaker and after issuance of notice by the Secretary General to elect a Deputy Speaker. No discretion has been conferred on anybody to not elect a Deputy Speaker.".Reley also submitted in his petition that the position of a Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha was not subordinate to the Speaker's, but an independent one in itself, answerable to the House alone. He also laid out the important functions of the Deputy Speaker in his petition.The plea contended that any further delay in electing the Constitutional office of the Deputy Speaker will breach the collective trust in the Lok Sabha, which is founded on the bedrock of Constitutional trust."It is the first time in the history of Indian Republic that the office of the Deputy Speaker has been vacant for a period of 830 days (2 years, 3 months, 7 days) as of August 30, 2021," the plea notably observed in this regard..He, therefore, sought a direction to the Speaker to hold the election of the Deputy Speaker within one month. He also prayed that the Centre be directed to assist the Speaker in holding the election.