Lok Sabha

Introduction

Lok Sabha, as the name itself signifies, is the body of representatives of the people, its members are directly eleced, normally once in every five years by the adult population who are eligible to vote. The minimum qualifying age for membership of the Hose is 25 years. The present membership of Lok Sabha is 545. The number is divided among the different States and Union Territories as follows.

Andhra Pradesh 42 , Arunachal Pradesh 2, Assam 14, Bihar 40, Chhattisgarh 11, Goa 2, Gujarat 26, Haryana 10, Himachal Pradesh 4, Jammu & Kashmir 6, Jharkhand 14, Karnataka 28, Keala 20, Madhya Pradesh 29, Maharasthra 48, Manipur 2 , Meghalaya 2, Mizoram 1, Nagaland 1, Orissa 21, Punjab 13, Rajasthan 25, Sikkim 1, Tamilnadu 39, Tripura 2, Uttarachal 5, Uttar Pradesh 80, West Bengal 42, Andaman & Nicobar Islands 1, Chandigarh 1, Dadra & Nagar Haveli 1, Daman & Diu 1, NCT of Delhi 7, Lakshadweep 1, Pondicherry 1, Anglo-Indians (if nominated 2 by the President under Article 331 of the Constitution).

Presiding Officers
Lok Sabha elects one of its own members as its Presiding Officer and he is called the Speaker. He is assisted by the Deputy Speaker who is also elected by Lok Sabha. The conduct of business in Lok Sabha is the responsibility of the Speaker.

Lok Sabha Chamber
The Chamber of the Lok Sabha is semi-circular in shape with a floor area of about 4800 sq. feet (446 square meters).

The Chair of the Speaker is placed on a raised platform at the center of the diameter connecting the two ends of the semi-circle. On the wooden panel just aboe the Speaker's Chair, which was originally designed by Sir Herbert Baker, the famous architect is installed an electrically-lit motto in Sanskrit. To the right of the Chair is located the Official Gallery meant for the use of the officials required to be present in attendance on Ministers in connection with the business of the House. To the left of the Chair is the Special Box reserved for the Members of the family and guests of the President. Governors of States, Heads and Prime Ministers of Foreign States and other high personalities in the discretion of the Speaker.

In the pit of the Chamber just below the Speaker's Chair is the table of the Secretary-General of the House. In front of him is placed a large table which is the Table of the House on which papers are formally laid by Ministers, Officers of the House and the Official Reporters sit at this Table.

The Chamber has seating accommodation for 550 Members. The seats are divided into six blocks, each with eleven rows. Block No. 1 on the right-hand side of the Speaker's Chair and Block No. 6 on the left-hand side have 97 seats each. The remaining 4 blocks have 89 seats each. A seat is allotted in the Chamber to each Member including Ministers who are members of Lok Sabha. The seats on the right-hand side of the Speaker's Chair are occupied by the Members of Government party and those on the left-hand side by members belonging to the Opposition Parties/Groups. The Deputy Speaker occupies the first front row seat on the left side.

Over looking the Chamber and fixed on the wood-work opposite to the Speaker's seat is the portrait of the late Shri Vithalbhai Patel, the first elected President of the Indian Legislative Assembly.

In the wood-work around the Lok Sabha Chamber, there are 35 gilded designs representing the various Provinces of undivided India, the Dominions and certain other British Settlements.

Member's Lobbies
Adjoining the Chamber and co-terminus with it are two covered corridors called the Inner and Outer Lobbies. These Lobbies are well furnished to make them a comfortable place for Members to sit and have informal discussions among themselves.

Visitor's Galleries
In the first floor of the Lok Sabha Chamber are located the various public galleries and the Press Gallery. The Pres Gallery is just above the Chair and to its left are situated the Speaker's Gallery (meant for the guests of the Speaker) the Rajya Sabha Gallery (Meant for Rajya Sabha Members) and the Special Gallery. The Public Gallery is in front of the Press Gallery. To the right of the Press Gallery are situated Diplomatic and Distinguished Visitor's Galleries.