Part V - Parliament • Article

Article 97 Simplified: Salaries and allowances of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker

The leaders of both Houses (Speaker, Chairman, and their deputies) receive salaries and allowances set by the Parliament. These are paid from the 'Consolidated Fund of India', meaning they are guaranteed and don't need a fresh vote every year.

Official Text

There shall be paid to the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Council of States, and to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of the People, such salaries and allowances as may be respectively fixed by Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such salaries and allowances as are specified in the Second Schedule.

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

The leaders of Parliament (the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, RS Chairman and Deputy Chairman) get paid salaries set by Parliament. These salaries come from the 'Consolidated Fund of India' — meaning they are guaranteed and don't need to be voted on every year like a government department's budget. This financial independence means Parliament's leaders can do their job without worrying about whether the government will cut their pay.

Student Mode

Article 97 ensures the financial independence of Parliament's presiding officers by: (1) Requiring Parliament to set their salaries by law; (2) Until Parliament does so, the Second Schedule applies; (3) By convention, their salaries are charged to the Consolidated Fund (not subject to annual vote). This is similar to the security of tenure provisions for judges — it prevents the Executive from influencing Parliament's leaders by cutting their pay.

Example

If an office-holder's power or duty is questioned, Article 97 clarifies how salaries and allowances of the chairman and deputy chairman and the speaker and deputy speaker fits into Parliament's working rules.

Key Takeaway

The financial independence of Parliament's leaders is protected.

FAQs

Why are the Speaker's and Chairman's salaries charged to the Consolidated Fund?

To ensure their independence. If their salaries were subject to an annual vote, the government could theoretically threaten to cut them to influence the presiding officer. Charging them to the Consolidated Fund removes this lever.

Who decides the salaries of Parliamentary officers?

Parliament itself decides their salaries and allowances by law (currently the Salaries and Allowances of Officers of Parliament Act). Until Parliament does so, the Second Schedule applies.

Quiz

Whose salaries are set by Article 97?

Answer: The Chairman/Deputy Chairman of RS and Speaker/Deputy Speaker of LS

Until Parliament fixes their salaries by law, the salaries of the Speaker and Chairman are governed by:

Answer: The Second Schedule