Vice President of India
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| VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA |
Vice-President
The Vice-President occupies the second highest office in the
country. He is accorded a rank next to the President in the official warrant of
precedence. This office is modelled on the lines of the American Vice-President.
ELECTION
The Vice-President, like the president, is elected not
directly by the people but by the method of indirect election. He is elected by
the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of
Parliament.
Thus, this electoral college is different from the electoral
college for the election of the President in the following two respects:
1. It consists of both elected and nominated members of the
Parliament (in the case of president, only elected members).
2. It does not include the members of the state legislative assemblies (in the case of President, the elected members of the state legislative assemblies are included). Explaining the reason for this difference,
Dr B R Ambedkar observed:
“The President is the head of the State and his power
extends both to the administration by the Centre as well as to the states.
Consequently, it is necessary that in his election, not only members of
Parliament should play their part, but the members of the state legislatures
should have a voice.But, when we come to the Vice-President, his normal
functions are to preside over the council of states. It is only on a rare
occasion, and that too for a temporary period, that he may be called upon to
assume the duties of the president. That being so, it does not seem necessary
that the members of the state legislatures should also be invited to take part
in the election of the Vice-President”.
But, the manner of election is same in both the cases. Thus,
the Vice-President’s election, like that of the President’s election, is held
in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the
single transferable vote and the voting is by secret ballot.
QUALIFICATIONS
To be eligible for election as Vice-President, a person
should fulfil the following qualifications:
1. He should be a citizen of India.
2. He should have completed 35 years of age.
3. He should be qualified for election as a member of the
Rajya Sabha.
4. He should not hold any office of profit under the Union
government or any state government or any local authority or any other public
authority.But, a sitting President or Vice-President of the Union, the governor
of a State and a minister for the Union or any state is not deemed to hold any Office
of profit and hence qualified for being a candidate for Vice-President.Further,
the nomination of a candidate for election to the office of Vice- President
must be subscribed by at least 20 electors as proposers and 20 Electors as
seconders. Every candidate has to make a security deposit of RS 15,000 in the
Reserve Bank of India.
OATH OR AFFIRMATION
Before entering upon his office, the Vice-President has to
make and subscribe
To an oath or affirmation. In his oath, the Vice-President swears:
1. To bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India; and To faithfully discharge the duties of his office.
The oath of office to the Vice-President is administered by
the President orSome person appointed in that behalf by him.
CONDITIONS OF OFFICE
The Constitution lays down the following two conditions of the Vice-President’s office:
1. He should not be a member of either House of Parliament or a House of The state legislature. If any such person is elected Vice-President, he is Deemed to have vacated his seat in that House on the date on which he Enters upon his office as Vice-president .He should not hold any other office of profit.
TERM OF OFFICE
The Vice-President holds office for a term of five years
from the date on
Which he enters upon his office. However, he can resign from his office at Any time by addressing the resignation letter to the President. He can also be Removed from the office before completion of his term. A formal Impeachment is not required for his removal. He can be removed by a Resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by an absolute majority (ie, a majority Of the total members of the House) and agreed to by the Lok Sabha. But, no Such resolution can be moved unless at least 14 days’ advance notice has been given. Notably, no ground has been mentioned in the Constitution for His removal.
The Vice-President can hold office beyond his term of five
years until his Successor assumes charge. He is also eligible for re-election
to that office. He May be elected for any number of terms.
VACANCY IN OFFICE
A vacancy in the Vice-President’s office can occur in any of
the following Ways:
On the expiry of his tenure of five years.
2.
By his resignation.
3.
On his removal.
4.
By his death.
5. Otherwise, for example, when he becomes disqualified to hold office or When his election is declared void.
When the vacancy is going to be caused by the expiration of
the term of The sitting vice-president, an election to fill the vacancy must be
held before The expiration of the term.
If the office falls vacant by resignation, removal, death or
otherwise, then Election to fill the vacancy should be held as soon as possible
after the
Occurrence of the vacancy. The newly-elected vice-president
remains in Office for a full term of five years from the date he assumes charge
of his Office.
ELECTION DISPUTES
All doubts and disputes in connection with election of the
Vice-President are Inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court whose
decision is final. 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 electoral college). If the
election of a person as Vice-President is declared void by the Supreme Court,
acts done by him before the Date of such declaration of the Supreme Court are
not invalidated (i.e., they Continue to remain in force).
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS
The functions of Vice-President are two-fold: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. In this respect, 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. He can act as President only for a maximum period of six months within which a new President has to be elected. Further, when the sitting President is unable To discharge his functions due to absence, illness or any other cause, the Vice-President discharges his functions until the President resumes his Office.While acting as President or discharging the functions of President, the Vice-President does not perform the duties of the office of the chairman of Rajya Sabha. During this period, those duties are performed by the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
COMPARISON BETWEEN
INDIAN AND AMERICAN VICE-PRESIDENTS :
Though the office of the Indian Vice-President is modelled on the lines of the American Vice-President, there is a difference. The American Vice-President Succeeds to the presidency when it falls vacant, and remains President for the Unexpired term of his predecessor. The Indian Vice-President, on the other Hand, does not assume the office of the President when it falls vacant for the Unexpired term. He merely serves as an acting President until the new President assumes charge.
From in the above it is clear that the Constitution has not assigned any Significant function to the Vice-President in that capacity. Hence, some Scholars call him ‘His Superfluous Highness’. This office was created with a View to maintain the political continuity of the Indian State.
The Constitution has not fixed any emoluments for the Vice-President in that Capacity. He draws his regular salary in his capacity as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. In 2008, the Parliament increased the salary of The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha from 40,000 to 1.25 lakh per month. In addition, he is entitled to daily allowance, free furnished residence, medical,travel and other facilities.
During any period when the Vice-President acts as President
or discharges the functions of the President, he is not entitled to the salary
or allowance payable to the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, but the salary and
allowance of the President
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