Page 49 - NIS English 16-30 September, 2025

Speakers’ Conference | NATION

Central Assembly used to run
from Delhi Assembly Complex
Under the Act of 1919, during British rule, the
central legislature was expanded to a bicameral
system with the creation of the Legislative Assembly
(Lower House) and the Council of State (Upper
House). The lower house was the Central Legislative
Assembly with 144 members, of which 104 were
elected and 40 nominated. It used to function from
Strengthened democracy the present Delhi Assembly building. In August
n The great freedom fighter Vitthalbhai Patel was elected 1925, the great freedom fighter Vitthalbhai Patel
was elected the first Indian Speaker of the Central
the Speaker of the Central Assembly in August 1925, Assembly. Prominent figures of the freedom
marking the beginning of legislative history by Indians.
movement articulated the nation’s aspirations for
n Vitthalbhai Patel laid the foundation of running the independence and represented the will of the
country democratically based on Indian ideas. people through their legislative actions. The Central

n Vitthalbhai Patel decided to establish the Legislative Legislative Assembly and the Council of States
Department and the Assembly Secretariat in the ceased to exist on 14 August 1947.
Central Government and all the states, which was also
accepted by the Constituent Assembly. such that they become a medium to express the
n Vitthalbhai Patel established many traditions. Especially voice of the people in the interest of the country.
for legislative work and the duties of the Speaker, In India, the Speaker has been accorded the
those traditions are still guiding like a luminous lamp. status of an institution. If anyone has the most diffi-
cult role in the House, it is that of the Speaker. They
n Vitthalbhai Patel faced several challenges many times,
but he overcame them. are elected from a political party but, upon taking
the oath, assume the role of an impartial umpire.
n He neither allowed the dignity of the Assembly In nearly 80 years, we have deepened the founda-
Speaker to diminish nor did he stop the House from tions of democracy to profound levels, proving that
suppressing the voice of the country. He also did not democracy is ingrained in the very essence and
allow the then mentality of the British to dominate the
work of the Assembly. nature of the Indian people. The Union Home and
Cooperation Minister said that after independence,
there have been many changes in power in India,
and there have been peaceful transfers of power
Vitthalbhai Patel strengthened Indian without a single drop of blood being shed. The
democracy by laying the foundation of basic reason for this is that we have preserved our
legislative traditions. While being the Speaker legislative process very well, and we have also made
of the Assembly, he not only maintained the changes in our system according to the times.
dignity of the House but also presented an ideal Union Minister Amit Shah said that if there is no
example of democratic values by giving every meaningful debate in the corridors of Parliament
member the full right to speak. As a speaker, he and Legislative Assemblies, then they will remain
is a source of inspiration for all the speakers of only lifeless buildings. Preventing Parliament
the Legislative Assembly. Today, it is the duty and Legislative Assemblies from functioning for
of every speaker to promote fair, positive, and political interests is not a debate. Protest should be
constructive debate so that the interests of every restrained. Symbolic protests have their place, but
section of the country can be protected. the emerging tradition of obstructing the House
day after day, throughout entire sessions, under
Amit Shah the pretext of protests, requires reflection from the
Union Home and Cooperation Minister public and elected representatives. n

September 16-30, 2025 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 47