News Highlight:
Rajya Sabha welcomes Jagdeep Dhankhar its new Chairman, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking the lead in expressing confidence that the Upper House under his leadership would “scale new heights” with serious debates and democratic discussions.
Key Takeaway:
- Opposition members urged him to give more time for discussions,
- Ensures that the Opposition’s voice is heard in the House, allocate more time for smaller parties and see to it that legislations are not passed in a hurry and are sent to parliamentary panels for scrutiny.
Vice-President of India:
- Introduction:
- In India, Vice-President has the second-highest office in the country. Article 63 of the Indian Constitution mentions the post of Vice-President.
- Article 63 to Article 71 of the Indian Constitution deals with the election, qualification, and removal of Vice Presidents of India.
- He acts as the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States that is, Rajya Sabha. In this capacity, his powers and functions are similar to those of the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
- He/She serves for a five-year term, but can continue to be in office. irrespective of the expiry of the term, until the successor assumes office.
- Electoral college of Vice President:
- Electoral college that elects President is different from the electoral college responsible for the election of Vice-President of India
- Electoral college for the election of Vice-President of India consists of:
- Elected members of Rajya Sabha.
- Nominated members of Rajya Sabha.
- Elected members of Lok Sabha
- States have no role to play unlike in President’s elections where state legislative assemblies’ elected members are a part of the electoral college.
- The election of a person as Vice-President cannot be challenged on the ground that the electoral college was incomplete (i.e., existence of any vacancy among the members of the electoral college).
- Eligibility for Vice President:
- Should be a citizen of India.
- Should have completed 35 years of age.
- Should be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
- An office of profit cannot be held by the Vice President of India. He should not be a member of either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha and if he is elected as Vice President when he has a seat in either of the house, he is deemed to have vacated that seat on his first day in the office.
- Election Procedure:
- No direct election for the Vice-President of India. He/she is indirectly elected by electoral college which is similar to that of President’. The principle of election used is Proportional Representation by means of Single Transferrable Vote.
- Article 324 of the Constitution read with the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 and the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974, vests the superintendence, direction and control of the conduct of election to the office of the Vice-President of India in the Election Commission of India
- The Election Commission, in consultation with the Central Government, appoints the Secretary-General of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, by rotation, as the Returning Officer.
- All the electors are members of both Houses of Parliament, the value of the vote of each Member of Parliament would be the same.
- Term of Office:
- Vice President holds the position for five years. However, he can resign before five years by handing over his resignation to the President. The other ways where a vacancy is created in the office of Vice President are given below:
- When he completes his term of five years
- When he resigns
- When he is removed
- On his death
- When his election is declared void.
- Vice President has no formal Impeachment:
- There is no formal impeachment for Vice President. Rajya Sabha simply can pass a resolution with a majority and Lok Sabha can pass it.
- Unlike the President of India who can be impeached on the ground of ‘Violation of Constitution,’ there is no ground mentioned in the constitution for the removal of Vice President of India.
- Supreme Court decides election disputes related to the office of Vice President.
- The functions of Vice-President:
- He acts as the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. In this capacity, his powers and functions are similar to those of the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
- He resembles the American vice-president, who also acts as the Chairman of the Senate – the Upper House of the American legislature.
- He acts as President when a vacancy occurs in the office of the President due to his resignation, removal, death or otherwise.
- The Vice-President discharges his functions until the President resumes his office.
Pic Courtesy: The Indian Express
Content source: The Indian Express