What is Article 178 of Indian constitution

www.hinsoli.com July 05, 2025

Article 178 of the Indian Constitution

Title: The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

🔹 Text Summary of Article 178:

“Every Legislative Assembly of a State shall, as soon as may be, choose two members of the Assembly to be respectively the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.”

📌 Key Provisions:

Provision	Details
✅ Election	The Legislative Assembly must elect a Speaker and Deputy Speaker from among its own members as early as possible after the Assembly is constituted.
✅ Presiding Officers	These officers preside over the Assembly sessions and ensure orderly conduct of legislative business.
❌ No Specific Time Limit	The Constitution does not set a strict timeline, but it's expected to be done soon after formation of the Assembly.

🧠 Key Roles of the Speaker:

Presides over Assembly meetings.
Maintains discipline and decorum.
Decides on points of order.
Certifies money bills.
Decides on disqualification under Anti-defection Law (Tenth Schedule).

🔁 Deputy Speaker:

Takes over when the Speaker is absent or position is vacant.
Elected by Assembly in the same manner as the Speaker.

⚖️ Related Articles:

Article	Subject
179	Vacation/resignation/removal of Speaker/Deputy Speaker
93	Similar provision for Lok Sabha (Speaker/Deputy Speaker)
180	Duties of Deputy Speaker when Speaker is absent