Article 299: Provisions relating to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker

1) The Speaker and Deputy Speaker existing at the time of commencement of this Constitution shall continue to hold their respective offices until another Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected pursuant to this Constitution.

2) The members of the Legislature-Parliament shall, on the basis of political understanding, elect one Speaker and one Deputy Speaker from themselves no later than twenty days after the date of the commencement of this Constitution where the Legislature-Parliament is not in recess at the time of commencement of this Constitution, and after the date on which the session of the Legislature-Parliament is summoned in accordance with clause (6) of Article 296 where the Legislature-Parliament is in recess.

3) In the event of failure to have an understanding under clause (2), a member of the Legislature-Parliament who commands a majority of all the then members of the Legislature-Parliament shall be deemed to be elected as the Speaker or Deputy Speaker.

4) In holding elections in accordance with clause (2) or (3), the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker shall be members representing different political parties in the Legislature-Parliament.

5) In discharging his or her functions in accordance with this Constitution, the Speaker or Deputy Speaker shall so discharge functions in the capacity of a neutral person without standing for or against any political party whatsoever.

6) The office of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker shall become vacant in any of the following circumstances:

(a) If he or she resigns in writing,

(b) If he or she ceases to be a member of the Legislature-Parliament,

(c) If a resolution is passed by a majority of at least two-thirds of the total number of the members of the Legislature Parliament to the effect that his or her conduct is not compatible with his or her office,

(d) If he or she dies.

7) The Deputy Speaker or another member shall preside over a meeting at which deliberations are to be held on a resolution that the conduct of the Speaker of the Legislature-Parliament is not compatible with his or her office, and the Speaker may take part and vote in the deliberations on such resolution.

8) Other procedures on the election to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, and procedures on the moving and passage of a motion that the Speaker or Deputy Speaker has committed conduct not compatible with his or her office shall be as provided by the then prevailing rules of the Legislature-Parliament.