Cannot run such a House, says Birla as protests continue

UPSC Study Note: "Cannot Run Such a House" — Lok Sabha Disruptions & Speaker's Role

1. At a Glance

• The Budget Session 2026 of Lok Sabha was repeatedly paralysed by Opposition protests, prompting Speaker Om Birla to remark he "cannot run such a House." [S1][S2]
• Core issues: Opposition demands over the India–U.S. trade deal and revelations in former Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane's unpublished book on the 2020 Galwan face-off with China. [S1]
• This episode encapsulates recurring UPSC themes: parliamentary disruption, Speaker's constitutional role, legislative productivity, and accountability mechanisms.
• Directly relevant to GS-II (Indian Polity) — functioning of Parliament, role of Speaker, parliamentary procedures.

2. Why in the News

• 1 February 2026: Union Budget presented.
• 6–7 February 2026: Lok Sabha failed to function for a second consecutive day; the House adjourned first to noon, then for the day, without taking up Budget discussion. [S1]
• 19 hours 13 minutes of parliamentary time wasted in the current session as of 7 February 2026, per Speaker Birla's own statement. [S1]
• March 2026: Opposition escalated by filing a No-Confidence Motion against the Speaker — signed by 118 MPs from Congress, SP, DMK, Left (excluding TMC) — defeated after Home Minister Amit Shah's rebuttal. [S3][S4]

3. Background & Evolution

• Constitutional basis: Articles 93–97 (Lok Sabha Speaker) and 178–179 (state Assemblies) govern the office of the Speaker.
• 1952 onwards: G.V. Mavalankar became the first Lok Sabha Speaker; conventions of Speaker's impartiality evolved from British Westminster model.
• Repeated Budget Session disruptions have a long precedent: 1989, 2012 (FDI debates), 2014–19 (various issues).
• 2023–24: PRS India data showed 17th Lok Sabha (2019–2024) used only ~47% of scheduled sitting time productively.
• Speaker removal: Only one precedent — Speaker G.V. Mavalankar's motion lapsed in 1954; no Speaker has ever been removed via formal resolution.
• Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha: Rule 374 (suspension of disorderly member), Rule 375 (grave disorder/adjournment), govern Speaker's response to disruptions. [S5]

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Legal / Constitutional

• Art. 94 makes Speaker removal deliberately difficult — majority of all members (not just present-and-voting) required; 14-day advance notice mandatory. [S5]
• Speaker enjoys immunity under Art. 105(2) for anything said or done in Parliament.
• Rule 375 empowers the Speaker to adjourn or suspend the sitting; however, the power to expel a member permanently requires the House's own resolution (not unilateral Speaker action).

Governance / Administrative

• 19 hrs 13 min wasted by 7 Feb 2026 — this directly impedes Budget scrutiny, which is Parliament's primary fiscal oversight function. [S1]
• The disruption prevented discussion on the Union Budget 2026–27 for at least two consecutive days, setting back parliamentary accountability.
• Zero Hour, Question Hour, and Private Member Bills — all casualty of prolonged Well protests.

Political / Historical

• Opposition protest over the India–U.S. trade deal reflects concerns about economic sovereignty and consultation deficits (no Parliament debate before deal).
• Gen. Naravane's book excerpts on 2020 Galwan clash raised civil-military relations issues and information suppression allegations — politically sensitive given 20 Indian soldiers died in the clash.
• The No-Confidence Motion against the Speaker (March 2026) was unprecedented in scale (118 signatories); accusations were of partisan conduct by the Speaker.

Ethical / Accountability

• Speaker's role as guardian of minority rights vs. government ally is a persistent ethical tension.
• Members entering the Well of the House violate Rules — yet the Speaker's capacity to act against large-scale collective protest is politically constrained.
• Wastage of public money: Each day of Parliament costs ~₹2.5 crore in direct costs (wages, services); 19+ hours wasted = significant public resource loss.

6. Recent Developments (Last 12–18 Months)

• Feb 1, 2026: Union Budget 2026–27 presented by Finance Minister.
• Feb 5–7, 2026: Lok Sabha disrupted consecutively over Indo-U.S. trade deal and Naravane book; Speaker Birla adjourned House on both days; stated 19 hrs 13 min lost. [S1][S2]
• March 9, 2026: Phase 2 of Budget Session commenced. [S4]
• March 9, 2026: Lok Sabha took up resolution seeking removal of Speaker Om Birla — 118 MP signatories. [S3][S4]
• March 9, 2026 (outcome): Removal motion defeated; Home Minister Amit Shah spoke in the Speaker's defence. [S3]
• March 13, 2026: Opposition uproar continued in Lok Sabha. [S2]

7. Prelims Hooks

1. Speaker Om Birla was elected Speaker for his second term in June 2024 — first sitting Speaker re-elected since Bal Ram Jakhar (1984).
2. Removal of a Lok Sabha Speaker requires notice of not less than 14 days (Art. 94).
3. Removal requires a majority of the total membership of Lok Sabha (not merely members present and voting).
4. Rule 375 of Lok Sabha Rules: Speaker may adjourn the House or suspend a sitting in case of grave disorder.
5. Rule 374: Speaker may name a disorderly member, who is then automatically suspended for the remainder of the session.
6. The Well of the House refers to the space in front of the Speaker's podium; entering it is a violation of parliamentary decorum.
7. Adjournment Motion (Rule 56, Lok Sabha): Used to raise a definite matter of urgent public importance; requires Speaker's admission; implies censure of government.
8. Business Advisory Committee of Lok Sabha is chaired by the Speaker and allocates time for legislative business.
9. The first Lok Sabha Speaker was G.V. Mavalankar (1952–1956); a motion for his removal was the first such instance and lapsed without a vote.
10. Speaker's vote in the House: The Speaker does not vote in the first instance; exercises a casting vote only in case of a tie (Art. 96).
11. 19 hours 13 minutes of parliamentary time was stated as wasted due to disruptions in the Budget Session 2026 as of February 7, 2026. [S1]
12. The No-Confidence Motion against Speaker in March 2026 was signed by 118 MPs — from Congress, SP, DMK, Left, excluding Trinamool Congress. [S3]
13. Under Article 105(2), no Member of Parliament is liable to any court proceedings in respect of anything said or any vote given in Parliament.

8. Mains Relevance

GS Paper: GS-II (Indian Polity & Governance)

Syllabus headings: - Parliament and State Legislatures — structure, functioning, conduct of business - Powers and functions of Speaker - Important constitutional positions — appointment, powers, removal - Government policies and issues arising from their design and implementation (Budget session context)

Plausible Mains Questions: 1. "Frequent disruptions in Parliament undermine representative democracy. Critically examine the constitutional and procedural tools available to the Speaker to manage disorder, and the limits thereof." 2. "The removal of a Lok Sabha Speaker requires a majority of total membership — a deliberately high bar. Discuss whether this provision adequately balances Speaker independence with parliamentary accountability." 3. "Budget session disruptions that prevent discussion of the Finance Bill strike at the heart of Parliament's financial oversight function. Analyse with reference to recent events."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. Wrong removal threshold: Aspirants confuse Speaker removal (majority of all members) with No-Confidence against government (majority of members present and voting).
2. Wrong Article: Art. 93 = election of Speaker; Art. 94 = removal — don't conflate them. Art. 95 = Deputy Speaker.
3. Rule 374 vs. Rule 375 confusion: Rule 374 = naming/suspension of individual member; Rule 375 = adjournment for grave disorder — UPSC loves this distinction.
4. Adjournment Motion vs. Calling Attention Motion: Adjournment Motion requires Speaker's admission and implies censure; Calling Attention is a milder, informational device — often confused.
5. TMC's position: In the March 2026 Speaker removal motion, Trinamool Congress did NOT sign despite being in Opposition — important factual distinction often missed. [S3]

11. Sources

• [S1] "Cannot run such a House, says Birla as protests continue" — The Hindu, 7 February 2026 — https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2026-02-07/ (Tier 4; article content provided as primary source)
• [S2] Lok Sabha Disruption Reports — Newsonair (AIR), Feb–March 2026 — https://www.newsonair.gov.in/lok-sabha-witnesses-continued-disruption-due-to-oppositions-ruckus-over-various-issues-including-india-us-trade-deal (Government broadcaster)
• [S3] "Union Home Minister replies to No-Confidence Motion against Speaker Om Birla" — PIB, March 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2238660 (Tier 1)
• [S4] "Phase two of Budget Session commences on March 9" — Newsonair, March 8, 2026 — https://www.newsonair.gov.in/phase-two-of-budget-session-commences-on-march-9 (Government broadcaster)
• [S5] "Adjournment Motion, Rule 267: Ways to seek urgent discussion in Parliament" — PRS India — https://prsindia.org/articles-by-prs-team/adjournment-motion-rule-267-ways-to-seek-urgent-discussion-in-parliament (Tier 1)
• [S6] "Lok Sabha Speaker expresses concern on planned disruption…" — PIB — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2094567 (Tier 1)