Ramvichar Netam took oath as Protem Speaker of Chhattisgarh Assembly

• 19 Dec 2023

Why in News?

On December 17, 2023, Chhattisgarh Governor Vishwabhushan Harichandan administered the oath of office to former minister and senior BJP MLA Ramvichar Netam as Protem Speaker of Chhattisgarh Assembly in a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan.

Key Points:

• It is worth mentioning that the Protem Speaker will administer the oath to the newly elected MLAs for the Chhattisgarh Assembly. BJP has already nominated senior MLA and former Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh as the Assembly Speaker.
• It is worth mentioning that the oath of membership of the Legislative Assembly is administered to the newly elected MLAs only by the Protem Speaker. After the oath of the members, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly are elected. The work and tenure of the Protem Speaker automatically comes to an end with the assumption of office by the permanent Speaker of the Assembly.
• Protem Speaker: Pro-Tem is a Latin phrase meaning ‘for the time being’. The Protem speaker is a temporary speaker who is appointed for a limited period.
• Requirement of Protem Speaker: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha/Assembly vacates his office immediately before the first meeting of the newly elected House.
  • The President/Governor appoints the Protem Speaker to preside over the meetings of the newly elected House (Lok Sabha/Vidhan Sabha). Usually the most senior member of the House is made the Protem Speaker.
• Duties of Protem Speaker:
  • The Protem Speaker presides over the first sitting of the Lok Sabha, administers the oath of office to newly elected MPs.
  • To conduct voting for Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
  • The post of Protem Speaker ceases to exist upon the election of a new Speaker.
  • He also conducts the floor test.