Opposition parties on Tuesday, February 10, submitted a notice to move a resolution to remove Om Birla as Lok Sabha Speaker. They alleged that he acted in a “blatantly partisan” manner while conducting House proceedings and made “blatantly false” allegations against Congress MPs. The development has raised a key question: Can a Lok Sabha Speaker be removed, and what is the process? Find out.
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1 / 8Can the Lok Sabha Speaker be removed from office? | Yes. Under Article 94(c) of the Constitution, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker can be removed through a formal resolution. The resolution must be passed by a majority of all the then members of the Lok Sabha. This provision applies only to the Lok Sabha, not the Rajya Sabha. (Image: Canva)
2 / 8In what situations does a Speaker vacate office? | Article 94 provides three ways: 1) Loss of membership: If the Speaker ceases to be a Lok Sabha MP, they automatically step down. 2) Resignation: The Speaker can resign by submitting a written letter. 3) Removal by the House: A resolution passed by a majority of all current members can remove them.
3 / 8Who can initiate a motion to remove the Speaker? | Any Lok Sabha MP can start the process. A written notice must be submitted to the Secretary-General. The notice may be signed by two or more MPs. A mandatory 14-day notice period must be completed before the motion can be moved in the House. When the motion is taken up, at least 50 MPs must stand in support for it to be admitted. If fewer than 50 members support it, the motion fails at this stage. (Image: PTI)
4 / 8What happens if the motion is admitted? | Once admitted, the House must take up the motion for discussion within 10 days. The debate is limited to the specific charges mentioned in the resolution. For the motion to pass, it must secure a majority of all current members, not just those present and voting. (Image: PTI)
5 / 8Can the Speaker preside during the removal process? | No. The Speaker can remain present in the House and defend themselves as an MP. They can vote like any other member. However, they cannot preside over the sitting when their removal is being discussed. They also do not get a casting vote in case of a tie. (Image: PTI)
6 / 8What triggered the latest motion against Om Birla? | A removal notice carrying 118 signatures was submitted to the Lok Sabha Secretary-General. The Opposition has alleged that proceedings were conducted in a “partisan” manner. The complaint says Opposition leaders were repeatedly denied opportunities to speak. The letter also cited interruptions during key debates and the suspension of MPs. The resolution has been moved under Article 94(c) and is likely to be taken up in the second half of the Budget Session. (Image: PTI)
7 / 8Has any Lok Sabha Speaker ever been removed? | No. Removal motions have been attempted three times — in 1954 against GV Mavalankar, in 1966 against Hukam Singh, and in 1987 against Balram Jakhar. In all three cases, the motions did not succeed, and the Speakers remained in office. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
8 / 8Why is removing a Speaker so difficult? | The requirement is intentionally strict. The resolution must pass with a majority of all current members of the House. The process includes a written notice, a waiting period, a minimum support threshold, debate, and a final vote. This ensures that removal happens only with broad support in the House and not as a routine political move. (Image: PTI)
