No-Trust Motion Against Speaker Om Birla: The Article 94 Gambit

On February 10, 2026, the INDIA bloc took the extraordinary step of submitting a notice to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. This is not a standard no-confidence motion against the government; it is a direct challenge to the neutrality of the Chair.

But a technicality stalled the first strike. The initial notice mistakenly cited the year 2025. After the BJP flagged the error, the Opposition resubmitted the notice with 118 signatures.

The Constitutional Machinery: Article 94 and 96

The removal of a Speaker is governed by Article 94(c) of the Indian Constitution. It is a high-threshold process designed to protect the independence of the office.

• The 14-Day Rule: No resolution can be moved without at least 14 days' notice.

• The Absolute Majority: Unlike a standard bill, this requires a "majority of all the then members" of the Lok Sabha.

• The Admissibility Test: Once the notice period ends, at least 50 MPs must stand in support for the motion to be admitted for debate.

Can Om Birla Preside Over His Own Trial?

Under Article 96, the answer is a firm no. While a resolution for their removal is under consideration, the Speaker cannot preside over the House.

However, the Speaker retains the right to speak and participate in the proceedings. They can vote in the "first instance" on the resolution but cannot exercise a "casting vote" in the event of a tie. On February 11, 2026, Om Birla announced he would recuse himself from the House on moral grounds until the matter is resolved.

The Real Friction Underneath

The Opposition's grievances are procedural. They allege:

1. Denial of speaking time for the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi.

2. Arbitrary suspension of eight Opposition MPs.

3. Partisan conduct regarding references to sensitive documents, such as former Army Chief MM Naravane's unpublished memoir.

Is this a genuine attempt at removal or a symbolic protest? With the government holding a comfortable majority of 293 seats against the Opposition's 214, the numbers for an absolute majority simply do not add up.

What Happens Next?

The Secretary General is currently examining the corrected notice. The motion is expected to be taken up in the second part of the Budget Session, starting March 9, 2026. Until then, the Lok Sabha remains in a state of procedural limbo.

FAQ: No-Confidence Against the Speaker

• What is Article 94(c)? It allows the removal of the Speaker by a resolution passed by a majority of all members of the Lok Sabha.

• How much notice is required? A minimum of 14 days' notice must be given before moving the resolution.

• How many MPs are needed to admit the motion? At least 50 members must rise in support of the motion in the House.

• Can the Speaker vote? Yes, but only in the first instance. They lose the power of the "casting vote" during this process.

• Has a Speaker ever been removed this way? No. Motions were moved in 1954, 1966, and 1987, but none resulted in removal.