Why in News?

All India Speakers’ Conference was hosted by the Delhi Legislative Assembly to mark the 100th anniversary of Vithalbhai Patel becoming President of the Central Legislative Assembly. 

• Early Life: Brother of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; studied law in England and practiced in Bombay. 
• Political Career: 
  • Elected to Bombay Legislative Council (1912) and Imperial Legislative Council (1918). 
  • Co-founded the Swaraj Party in 1923 along with C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru. 
  • Became President of the Central Legislative Assembly in 1925 (member in 1924). 
• Contributions to India’s Parliamentary Traditions: 
  • Introduced the ward and watch system for Parliament security, ensuring Speaker's control, which continued until 2024. 
  • Preserved Speaker's authority after the 1929 bombing incident (Bhagat Singh, Batukeshwar Dutt). 
  • Established an independent Parliament Secretariat, reporting solely to the Speaker. 
  • Created a separate Legislative Assembly Department in 1929 to strengthen the Speaker’s autonomy.