The Secretary General of the Lok Sabha plays a pivotal role in the functioning of the Indian Parliament, specifically assisting the Speaker in fulfilling their constitutional and statutory responsibilities. This senior official holds a position and pay scale equivalent to that of the Cabinet Secretary, which is the highest-ranking bureaucratic position within the Government of India. Supporting the Secretary General are various functionaries, including those at the levels of Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary, along with an array of officers and staff at different tiers of the Secretariat. This structured hierarchy ensures that the Lok Sabha operates smoothly, facilitating effective legislative processes and maintaining order during sessions.
Serving a designated term, the Secretary General must retire upon reaching the age of 60. This age limit is firmly entrenched in the norms of governance to maintain a dynamic and youthful leadership within the Parliament. An essential aspect of the Secretary General's role is their accountability directly to the Speaker. In this capacity, the Secretary General’s actions and decisions are not subject to discussion or criticism, neither within the Lok Sabha itself nor in public forums. This provision safeguards the integrity of parliamentary proceedings, allowing for a stable and unimpeded legislative environment where the Speaker can rely on sound advice and administrative support.
The Secretary General also carries the constitutional responsibility of summoning Members of the Lok Sabha to parliamentary sessions on behalf of the President. In scenarios where the Speaker is absent, the Secretary General is empowered to authenticate bills, ensuring that legislative processes continue uninterrupted. Furthermore, the Secretary General acts as an advisor to the Speaker, executing orders under the Speaker’s authority but doing so on their behalf rather than through a system of delegated authority. This delineation emphasizes the independence and significance of the Secretary General’s role in maintaining the operational efficacy of the Lok Sabha.
The history of the Lok Sabha is marked by a succession of distinguished individuals who have held the office of Secretary General since the parliament’s inception. M. N. Kaul was the first to assume the role on April 17, 1952, and he served through the significant early years of India's parliamentary democracy until September 1, 1964. His term, which lasted 12 years and 137 days, was followed by S. L. Shakdhar, who brought his own contributions to the position from September 1, 1964, until June 18, 1977. Shakdhar's tenure was notably long, spanning 12 years and 290 days, marking a period of stability in the Lok Sabha's functioning.
After Shakdhar, Avtar Singh Rikhy continued this precedent of longevity in office, serving from June 18, 1977, until December 31, 1983, for a total of 6 years and 196 days. He was succeeded by Subhash C. Kashyap, who held the position from December 31, 1983, to August 20, 1990. Kashyap's contributions during his tenure of 6 years and 232 days are well remembered, particularly for his pivotal role during a dynamic period in Indian politics.
The position saw a brief transition when K. C. Rastogi took over from August 21, 1990, to December 31, 1991, serving for 1 year and 132 days. This was a period marked by political upheaval in the country. Following Rastogi, C. K. Jain, R. C. Bhardwaj, and S. N. Mishra had relatively shorter terms, with Mishra serving multiple stints in early 1996, collectively portraying the changing dynamics in the Lok Sabha during the 1990s.
The post of Secretary General was held with more stability by S. Gopalan, who served from July 15, 1996, to April 26, 1999. This was followed by G. C. Malhotra, whose influence spanned across three terms during a period from July 14, 1999, to July 31, 2005. P. D. T. Acharya then took over from August 1, 2005, to September 30, 2010, further solidifying the administrative backbone of the Lok Sabha.
In the subsequent years, T. K. Viswanathan, S. Bal Shekar, and P. Sreedharan each contributed to the Lok Sabha in various capacities, adapting the role to an evolving political landscape. Snehlata Shrivastava's tenure from December 1, 2017, to November 30, 2020, preceded the current Secretary General, Utpal Kumar Singh. Singh's ongoing leadership, starting November 30, 2020, reflects the continued legacy of capable individuals guiding the workings of the Lok Sabha, which remains integral to India's democratic framework.