Consider the following statements : I. On the dissolution of the House of the People, the Speaker shall not vacate his/her office until immediately before the first meeting of the House of the People after the dissolution. II. According to the provisions of the Constitution of India, a Member of the House of the People on being elected as Speaker shall resign from his/her political party immediately. III. The Speaker of the House of the People may be removed from his/her office by a resolution of the House of the People passed by a majority of all the then Members of the House, provided that no resolution shall be moved unless at least fourteen days' notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) I and II only
- (b) II and III only
- (c) I and III only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) I, II and III
Why the answer is (c)
• Statement I is correct: under Article 94, when the Lok Sabha is dissolved the Speaker continues in office until immediately before the first meeting of the new House, ensuring continuity.
• Statement III is correct: Article 94(c) read with Article 96 lets the House remove the Speaker by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members, after at least fourteen days' notice.
• Statement II is wrong: the Constitution contains no requirement that a Speaker resign from his or her party; some Speakers (e.g. N. Sanjiva Reddy in 1967) have done so by convention, but it is not a constitutional provision.
• The Speaker is also exempt from anti-defection disqualification if he or she voluntarily gives up party membership on election (Tenth Schedule, para 5).
• Hence I and III only, option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) I and II only
- Statement II is wrong: there is no constitutional duty to resign from the party.
- (b) II and III only
- Statement II is wrong; statement I on continuity after dissolution is correct.
- (d) I, II and III
- Statement II is wrong, so all three cannot be correct.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025, held on 25 May 2025. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.