Birla to stay away from Lok Sabha proceedings

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla: Removal Notice and Constitutional Implications

UPSC Prelims + Mains Study Note

1. At a Glance

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stepped away from presiding over House proceedings in February 2026 on "moral grounds" after the Opposition filed a notice seeking his removal, citing partisan conduct. [S1]
• This event tests the constitutional provision under Article 94(c) — the only mechanism to remove the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. [S2]
• The episode is the fourth such instance in Indian parliamentary history (since 1952) of a formal removal notice being submitted against a sitting Speaker. [S1]
• UPSC relevance: intersects GS-II (Parliament, constitutional provisions, parliamentary procedure) and constitutional conventions around Speaker's impartiality and neutrality.

2. Why in the News

• On 11 February 2026, Opposition parties led by Congress submitted a notice to the Lok Sabha Secretary-General seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla under Article 94(c). [S1]
• Allegations: Speaker was "blatantly partisan" in conducting House business; denied speech time to Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi; made "unwarranted allegations" against women MPs of the Opposition. [S1][S4]
• Speaker Birla voluntarily decided to stay away from presiding over House proceedings until the notice was disposed of, citing "moral grounds" — a constitutional convention upheld by Article 96. [S1]
• The notice was signed by 118 Opposition MPs from Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party, RJD, and Left parties. [S3]
• Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju countered by releasing video footage (from 4 February 2026) on X, showing Opposition women MPs surrounding the PM's front-row seat — defending the Speaker's action. [S1]
• On 10 March 2026, Lok Sabha formally admitted the motion (Congress MP Dr. Mohammad Jawed moved the resolution) after at least 50 MPs rose in support. Debate was taken up on 10–11 March 2026. [S3]

3. Background & Evolution

• Om Birla (BJP, Kota-Bundi, Rajasthan) was first elected Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha in June 2019 and re-elected Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha in June 2024 — the first Speaker re-elected after a gap since 1976. [S4]
• The role of Speaker is rooted in Part V, Chapter II of the Constitution (Articles 93–100), modelled on the Westminster/British parliamentary tradition of a neutral, impartial presiding officer.
• Historical precedents for removal notices against Lok Sabha Speaker: 1. 1954 — Against G.V. Mavalankar (first Speaker, 1952–56) 2. 1966 — Against Hukam Singh 3. 1988 — Against Balram Jakhar 4. 2026 — Against Om Birla (present case) [S1][S3]
• No Speaker has ever been successfully removed in Indian history; all previous notices failed or were withdrawn.

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Legal / Constitutional

• Article 94(c) provides the only constitutional route; no judicial review of parliamentary proceedings under Article 122 (courts cannot inquire into proceedings of Parliament). [S2]
• The Speaker's decision to voluntarily recuse follows Article 96, which mandates the Speaker shall not preside while a removal motion is under consideration — but Article 96 is triggered only once the motion is formally taken up in the House, not merely at the notice stage. Birla's pre-emptive step goes beyond the literal constitutional text, invoking convention. [S2]
• Article 100 governs voting and quorum; removal requires an effective majority, a higher bar than ordinary resolutions (simple majority of those present and voting). [S2]

Governance / Ethical

• The Speaker's impartiality is a fundamental constitutional convention; partisan conduct allegations strike at the credibility of the presiding office.
• In the UK (Westminster model), Speakers resign from their party on election; India has not adopted this convention — Speakers retain party membership, creating structural tension.
• The episode raises the question of whether India needs a statutory code of conduct for the Speaker, as recommended by several parliamentary reform committees.
• BJP Women MPs simultaneously submitted a petition alleging misconduct by Opposition MPs — highlighting the partisan deadlock in accountability mechanisms. [S1]

Political / Administrative

• The Opposition's 118-member support for the notice signals a functional INDIA bloc coalition cutting across SP, DMK, RJD, Left, and Congress. [S3]
• The government (Parliamentary Affairs Ministry) used social media (X/Twitter) to counter the narrative — reflecting a newer mode of parliamentary political communication. [S1]
• Disruptions around the PM's front-row seat (4 February 2026) illustrate the deteriorating well-of-the-House discipline, a recurring problem since the 14th Lok Sabha. [S1]

Historical

• All three prior removal notices (1954, 1966, 1988) failed; this establishes a pattern that removal motions are more a political tool than a realistic mechanism. [S3]
• The Speaker's self-recusal (without a formal court/statutory order) is a significant constitutional convention moment akin to the British convention that Speakers must be seen to be neutral. [S1]

6. Recent Developments (Last 12–18 Months)

• 4 February 2026: Incident in Lok Sabha involving Opposition women MPs near the PM's front-row seat; Speaker Om Birla later made allegations against Congress women MPs. [S1]
• 11 February 2026: Opposition (118 MPs) submits formal removal notice to Secretary-General; Speaker directs Secretariat to examine the notice per rules; Speaker voluntarily stays away from presiding on "moral grounds." [S1]
• 11 February 2026: Speaker's Secretariat identifies "deficiencies" in the notice; Birla directs Secretariat to rectify those and proceed as per rules. [S5]
• 6 March 2026: Lok Sabha schedules the resolution seeking Speaker's removal for Monday, 10 March 2026. [S5]
• 10 March 2026: Lok Sabha formally admits the motion after 50+ MPs rise in support; Congress MP Dr. Mohammad Jawed moves the resolution; debate begins. [S3][S5]
• 11 March 2026: Lok Sabha resumes debate on resolution seeking Speaker's removal. [S5]
• April 2026: Lok Sabha Speaker Birla and RS Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan together reject an impeachment notice of motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar — underscoring the Speaker's continued role in other quasi-judicial functions. [S5]

7. Prelims Hooks

1. Article 94(c) provides for removal of the Lok Sabha Speaker by a resolution passed by an effective majority of all then-members. [S2]
2. A minimum of 14 days' advance notice must be given before a resolution for the Speaker's removal can be moved. [S2]
3. At least 50 Lok Sabha members must support the notice for it to be admitted for debate. [S2]
4. Under Article 96, the Speaker does not preside over proceedings while a removal resolution is under consideration. [S2]
5. The Speaker has the right to speak in self-defence during the removal debate and can cast a vote in the first instance (but has no casting vote). [S2]
6. The 18th Lok Sabha removal motion against Om Birla (2026) is the fourth such notice in Indian parliamentary history since 1952. [S3]
7. Previous removal notices: against G.V. Mavalankar (1954), Hukam Singh (1966), Balram Jakhar (1988) — none succeeded. [S3]
8. The removal motion was formally moved in Lok Sabha by Congress MP Dr. Mohammad Jawed. [S3]
9. 118 MPs from Opposition parties signed the removal notice. [S3]
10. The Speaker retains party membership in India — unlike the UK, where the Speaker resigns from their party upon election. [S2]
11. Courts cannot inquire into Lok Sabha proceedings under Article 122 of the Constitution. [S2]
12. Under Article 93, the Lok Sabha shall choose two members to be its Speaker and Deputy Speaker as soon as may be. [S2]
13. Om Birla was first elected Lok Sabha Speaker in June 2019 (17th Lok Sabha) and re-elected in June 2024 (18th Lok Sabha). [S4]
14. The Parliamentary Affairs Ministry (Minister: Kiren Rijiju) is the nodal ministry for parliamentary coordination. [S1]
15. "Effective majority" for Speaker's removal means majority of all then-members of the House, not just those present and voting — a higher threshold than an ordinary resolution. [S2]

8. Mains Relevance

Plausible Mains Question Stems:

1. "The office of the Lok Sabha Speaker is constitutionally designed for impartiality, yet structural features of the Indian system make true neutrality difficult. Discuss, with reference to recent controversies." (GS-II, 15 marks)
2. "Examine the constitutional provisions and procedural safeguards governing the removal of the Lok Sabha Speaker. Why have all such attempts historically failed?" (GS-II, 10 marks)
3. "Parliamentary disruptions and the politicisation of the Speaker's office reflect a deeper crisis in India's Westminster-model democracy. Critically analyse." (GS-II, 15 marks)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

1. Election of Lok Sabha Speaker (Articles 93–97) — Directly foundational; understand the full lifecycle of the office.
2. Role of the Opposition Leader (LoP) — The dispute centred on denial of LoP's speech time; connect to statutory recognition of LoP under the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition Act, 1977.
3. Parliamentary Privileges (Article 105) — Allegations of MPs' conduct in the House hinge on privilege; understand breach of privilege and contempt of Parliament.
4. Anti-Defection Law (Tenth Schedule) — The Speaker is the deciding authority on disqualification petitions — a structural conflict of interest that overlaps with impartiality concerns.
5. Deputy Speaker's role (Article 93, 95) — Becomes crucial when Speaker recuses; note that the 18th Lok Sabha has not yet elected a Deputy Speaker (as of early 2026) — a constitutional gap.
6. Rajya Sabha Chairman vs Lok Sabha Speaker — Compare roles, removal mechanisms, and impartiality conventions.
7. Parliamentary Reforms Committees — NCRWC 2002, Second ARC, Santhi Coumar Committee recommendations on Speaker's neutrality and parliamentary conduct.
8. Article 122 (Courts and Parliamentary Proceedings) — Non-justiciability of parliamentary proceedings; complements the legal dimension of this episode.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. Confusing "effective majority" with "simple majority" — Removal of the Speaker requires an effective majority (majority of all then-members), not a simple majority of those present and voting. Aspirants often conflate these.
2. Article 94 vs Article 96 — Article 94 defines grounds and process of removal; Article 96 says the Speaker shall not preside during the removal debate. Both are tested separately.
3. Thinking the Speaker loses the casting vote during removal — The Speaker loses the presiding role (Article 96), but when the motion is being voted on, they can vote in the first instance; they do NOT have a casting vote.
4. Confusing the notice threshold (50 MPs) with the passage threshold (effective majority) — 50 MPs are needed to admit the motion; an effective majority of all Lok Sabha members is needed to actually pass it.
5. Assuming courts can intervene — Article 122 bars courts from inquiring into parliamentary proceedings; aspirants sometimes assume judicial review is available for Speaker's rulings.

11. Sources

• [S1] "Birla to stay away from Lok Sabha proceedings" — The Hindu, 11 February 2026 — (Tier 4): https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2026-02-11/
• [S2] "How is the Lok Sabha Speaker removed? Article 94(c) and the no-confidence process explained" — Zee News / Constitution of India — (Tier 4 / reference): https://zeenews.india.com/india/how-to-remove-lok-sabha-speaker-article-94c-process-om-birla-3015528.html
• [S3] "Lok Sabha admits motion to oust Speaker Om Birla after 50 MPs back notice" — Onmanorama, 10 March 2026 (citing Lok Sabha proceedings): https://www.onmanorama.com/news/india/2026/03/10/opposition-moves-no-confidence-motion-against-lok-sabha-speaker-om-birla.html
• [S4] "Om Birla Removal: Lok Sabha admits Opposition motion, heated row erupts" — Deccan Herald: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/lok-sabha-admits-opposition-motion-to-remove-speaker-om-birla-3926251
• [S5] Newsonair.gov.in coverage (Government of India public broadcaster) — multiple dates: https://www.newsonair.gov.in/ls-speaker-om-birla-directs-secretariat-to-rectify-deficiencies-in-no-confidence-motion (11 Feb 2026); https://www.newsonair.gov.in/lok-sabha-schedules-to-take-up-resolution-seeking-removal-of-speaker-om-birla-on-monday (6 Mar 2026); https://www.newsonair.gov.in/lok-sabha-to-take-up-resolution-for-removal-of-speaker-om-birla-today (10 Mar 2026); https://www.newsonair.gov.in/lok-sabha-begins-debate-on-resolution-seeking-removal-of-speaker-om-birla (10 Mar 2026) — (Tier 1 / Government broadcaster)