(3) When the office of Speaker is vacant, or the Speaker is absent or is unable to perform his
functions due to any cause, the Deputy Speaker shall act as speaker, and if, at that time, the Deputy
Speaker is also absent or is unable to act as Speaker due to any cause, such member as may be
determined by the rules of procedure of the Assembly shall preside at the meeting of the Assembly.
(4) The Speaker or the Deputy Speaker shall not preside at a meeting of the Assembly when a
resolution for his removal from office is being considered.
(5) The Speaker may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office.
(6) The Deputy Speaker may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Speaker, resign his
office.
(7) The office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker shall become vacant if—
(a) he resigns his office;
(b) he ceases to be a member of the Assembly; or
(c) he is removed from office by a resolution of the Assembly, of which not less than seven
days' notice has been given and which is passed by the votes of the majority of the total
membership of the Assembly.
(8) When the National Assembly is dissolved, the Speaker shall continue in his office till the
person elected to fill the office by the next Assembly enters upon his office.
154. Summoning and prorogation of MajliseShoora (Parliament). (1) The President may,
from time to time, summon either House or both Houses or 2[MajliseShoora (Parliament)] in joint
sitting to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit and may also prorogue the same.
(2) There shall be at least 3[three] sessions of the National Assembly every year, and not more
than one hundred and twenty days shall intervene between the last sitting of the Assembly in one
session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session:
Provided that the National Assembly shall meet for not less than one hundred and 4[thirty]
working days in each year.
5[Explanation.– In this clause, "working days" includes any day on which there is a joint sitting
and any period, not exceeding two days, for which the National Assembly is adjourned.]
(3) On a requisition signed by not less than onefourth of the total membership of the National
Assembly, the Speaker shall summon the National Assembly to meet, at such time and place as he
thinks fit, within fourteen days of the receipt of the requisition; and when the Speaker has summoned
the Assembly only he may prorogue it.
1 Article 54, had, until the 31st day of December, 1973, effect as if the proviso to clause (2) thereof were omitted, see the Removal of Difficulties (Sittings of National Assembly) Order
1973 (P.O. No. 23 of 1973), Art. 2.
2 Subs. by the Revival of the Constitution of 1973 Order, 1985 (P.O. No. 14 of 1985), Art. 2 and Sch., for "Parliament".
3 Subs. by P.O. No. 14 of 1985, Art. 2 and Sch., for "two".
4 Subs. by the Constitution (Tenth Amdt.) Act, 1987 (1 of 1987). s. 2, for "sixty" which was previously amended by P.O. No.14 of 1985, Art. 2 and Sch.
5 Explanation added by the Constitution (Fourth Amdt.) Act, 1975 (71 of 1975), s. 6, (w.e.f. the 21st November, 1975).
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