The Lok Sabha’s Secretary-General is the administrative head of the Lok Sabha Secretariat. He or she is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The post of the Secretary-General is equivalent to the rank of the Cabinet Secretary in the Government of India, who is the senior-most civil servant to the Indian Government.
Role of Secretary-General of Lok Sabha:
• In the discharge of his constitutional & statutory responsibilities, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is assisted by the Secretary-General, Lok Sabha, (whose position, pay scale and status etc. is equivalent to that of the highest-ranking official in the Government of India, i.e. Cabinet Secretary, Joint Secretary and other officers, functionaries of the level of the Additional Secretary and staff of the Secretariat at various levels.
• The Secretary-General remains in the office till his/her retirement at the age of 60. He or she is answerable only to the Speaker; his/her actions can’t be discussed or criticised in or outside the Lok Sabha.
• On the behalf of the President of India, he or she summons members to attend the session of Parliament and authenticates bills in the absence of the Speaker.