Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns Citing Health Reasons

Vice President Resignation Latest News

• In an unexpected development, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post on July 21, the opening day of the Monsoon session of Parliament. 
• Citing health concerns and following medical advice, Dhankhar submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, invoking Article 67(a) of the Constitution. 

• Jagdeep Dhankhar is the third Vice President in India’s history to resign mid-term, after V. V. Giri and R. Venkataraman, who resigned to contest presidential elections.

Vice President’s Resignation Procedure

• As per Article 67 of the Constitution, the Vice President can resign anytime by submitting a written resignation to the President. 
• Once accepted, the resignation takes immediate effect, requiring only formal communication and acknowledgment—no approval process is needed.

Article 67(a) 

• Article 67(a) of the Indian Constitution allows the Vice President to resign before completing the five-year term by submitting a written resignation to the President. 
• Jagdeep Dhankhar, who became Vice President in August 2022, invoked this article to step down two years early, well before his term was due to end in 2027.

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Succession After Vice President’s Resignation

• When the Vice President of India resigns, an election must be held to fill the vacancy, as per constitutional provisions. 
• The Constitution does not provide for an acting Vice-President. 
• However, since the Vice-President is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Deputy Chairman, currently Harivansh Narayan Singh, will preside over the House in his absence.
• This seamless succession mechanism ensures that the functioning of the Rajya Sabha continues without disruption.

Timeline for Vice-Presidential Election

• Unlike the President’s post, the Constitution does not set a fixed deadline for filling a Vice-Presidential vacancy. 
• The only stipulation is that the election be conducted “as soon as possible” after the office falls vacant. 
• The Election Commission is responsible for announcing the schedule. 
• The election is held under the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952. 
• Traditionally, the Secretary General of either House of Parliament is appointed as the Returning Officer on a rotational basis.

Tenure of the New Vice President

• A newly elected Vice President, in the event of a mid-term vacancy, will serve a full five-year term from the date of assuming office, not merely the remaining period of the predecessor’s term. 
• This is a crucial distinction from some other constitutional offices where successors may serve only the unexpired term.

Eligibility Criteria for Vice-President of India

• As per Article 66 of the Indian Constitution, a person is eligible to contest for the office of Vice-President if: 
  • He is an Indian citizen, 
  • at least 35 years old, and 
  • qualified to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha. 
• Additionally, the candidate must not hold any office of profit under the Central or State Government or any local or public authority.

Election Process for the Vice-President of India

• The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members. 
• State legislatures do not participate in this process. 
• Voting takes place in the Parliament House through a secret ballot, using the proportional representation system with a single transferable vote. 
• Each Member of Parliament ranks candidates in order of preference, with all votes carrying equal weight. 
• A candidate must secure a quota of votes — calculated by dividing the total valid votes by two and adding one — to win. 
• If no candidate reaches the quota initially, the one with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed according to second preferences. 
• This elimination and transfer process continues until a candidate meets the required quota.

Role and Importance of the Vice President of India

• The Vice President is the second-highest constitutional authority in India and acts as the ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. 
• Though not a member of any House or state legislature, the Vice President ensures smooth conduct of proceedings in the Upper House. 
• In the event of the President’s death, resignation, removal, or inability to perform duties, the Vice President temporarily assumes presidential responsibilities until a new President is elected.

Source: TH | LM | ABP