The position of the Rajya Sabha Chairperson, held by the Vice President of India, plays a pivotal role in the legislative and administrative functioning of the upper house of Parliament. Recent developments, including a motion of no-confidence against the Chairperson, have brought the constitutional provisions for their removal into focus.
Vice President as Rajya Sabha Chairperson
Under Article 64 of the Indian Constitution, the Vice President of India serves as the ex officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. This dual responsibility makes the Vice President integral to both legislative proceedings and constitutional protocols.
Constitutional Procedure for Removal
The procedure to remove the Vice President, and thereby the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, is enshrined in Article 67(b) of the Constitution. While the process is well-defined, it does not specify grounds for removal, allowing it to be based on the discretion of the members of Parliament.
Notice of Motion:
A 14-day notice is mandatory before moving the resolution for removal.
The notice must explicitly outline the intent and purpose of the motion.
Passing of the Resolution:
The resolution to remove the Vice President must be passed by an effective majority in the Rajya Sabha.
Following approval in the Rajya Sabha, the resolution must be agreed to by the Lok Sabha with a simple majority (majority of members present and voting).
Comparison with Presidential Removal
The removal procedure for the Vice President contrasts with that of the President:
Grounds for Removal:
While specific grounds like violation of the Constitution are mentioned for the President, there are no grounds specified for the Vice President’s removal.
Parliamentary Majority:
Removal of the President requires a two-thirds majority of the total membership in both houses, whereas the Vice President’s removal involves a simpler parliamentary process.
Importance in Parliamentary Democracy
Checks and Balances:
The removal process ensures that the Vice President remains accountable to the Parliament.
Legislative Integrity:
As the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, the Vice President’s impartiality and efficiency are crucial for the smooth functioning of the legislative process.
Constitutional Safeguards:
The structured process prevents arbitrary removal and upholds the dignity of the office.
UPSC Relevance
The topic holds significance for aspirants preparing for Indian Polity and Governance in the UPSC syllabus. Understanding the nuances of parliamentary procedures and constitutional articles like 64 and 67 can aid in answering both prelims and mains questions.
Practice Question
Consider the following statements regarding the removal of the Vice President of India:
The Vice President can be removed by a resolution passed by a simple majority in both houses of Parliament.
The grounds for removal of the Vice President are explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.
A 14-day notice is required before initiating the resolution for removal.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
(b) 3 onl
b) 3 only