Consider the following statements: 1. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly shall vacate his/her office if he/she ceases to be a member of the Assembly. 2. Whenever the Legislative Assembly is dissolved, the Speaker shall vacate his/her office immediately. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct as per Article 179 of the Constitution, which mandates that the Speaker must vacate their office if they cease to be a member of the Assembly. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Speaker does not vacate office immediately upon dissolution; instead, they continue to hold office until immediately before the first meeting of the newly elected Assembly. This question tests the core concept of the **continuity of the Speaker’s office** to ensure there is no vacuum in presiding authority during transitions.