Article 180

Power of Deputy Speaker or Other Person to Act as Speaker

Official heading: “Power of the Deputy Speaker or other person to perform the duties of the office of, or to act as, Speaker.”

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Source edition: The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
Source locator: Part VI, Article 180, printed pages 81–82
Last human source-link check: Not yet checked
Last human legal review: Not yet reviewed

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1. In One Sentence

Article 180 empowers the Deputy Speaker or a Governor-appointed member to perform the duties of the Speaker during a vacancy, and provides for acting arrangements during absence.

2. What It Means in Everyday Language

Article 180 ensures that the Legislative Assembly is never left without an active presiding officer.

Vacancy vs. Absence: Under Clause (1), while the office of Speaker is vacant, its duties shall be performed by the Deputy Speaker, or if that office is also vacant, by such member of the Assembly as the Governor may appoint for the purpose.

Clause (2) deals with temporary absence: during the absence of the Speaker from any sitting, the Deputy Speaker, or if also absent, a person determined by the rules of procedure (or chosen by the House), acts as Speaker.

3. Practical Illustrative Example

Everyday Scenario:

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly resigns unexpectedly while the House is in active session.

Core takeaway: Under Article 180(1), the Deputy Speaker immediately steps in to perform the constitutional duties of Speaker until a new election is held.

Illustrative Notice: The acting presiding officer exercises full disciplinary and procedural powers to maintain order in the chamber.

4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions

Article 180 guarantees uninterrupted presiding leadership in the Assembly.

Deputy Speaker steps in during gubernatorial or natural vacancies.
Governor may designate an interim member if both offices are vacant.
Assembly rules of procedure govern temporary sessional absences.
Acting presiding officer wields complete procedural powers of the chair.

5. Operative Constitutional Text

(1) While the office of Speaker is vacant, the duties of the office shall be performed by the Deputy Speaker or, if the office of Deputy Speaker is also vacant, by such member of the Assembly as the Governor may appoint for the purpose. (2) During the absence of the Speaker from any sitting of the Assembly the Deputy Speaker or, if he is also absent, such person as may be determined by the rules of procedure of the Assembly, or, if no such person is present, such other person as may be determined by the Assembly, shall act as Speaker.

Transcription for reference; compare with the linked official editionNot yet verified by a human legal reviewer

6. Sources & Historical Assembly Deliberations

Assembly quotations are withheld until wording, dates, and attribution have been checked against the primary record.

Sources & Citation Metadata

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Constitutional TextThe Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)Cited PDF page
Government of India (Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice) • Part VI, Article 180, printed pages 81–82 • Human source-link check pending
Primary PDF accessed and transcribed with AI assistance on 14 October 2026. Formatting and amendment annotation markers are omitted; operative wording is retained. This is not human legal review. Later amendments and commencement notifications have not been comprehensively checked.

Human legal review is pending; compare the text with the cited editionNon-partisan educational resource