Vice President Resignation and Parliamentary Proceedings
Source:Indian Express ↗
Why It Matters
The article touches upon three critical areas of the GS2 syllabus: the constitutional processes surrounding the vacancy and election of the Vice President, the stringent and rarely used parliamentary procedure for removing a High Court judge, and the ongoing debate over the necessity and methodology of a nationwide caste census for effective affirmative action.
Summary
The political landscape is dominated by three major developments: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation on medical grounds, which triggers a new Vice Presidential election; the initiation of parliamentary impeachment proceedings against Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma based on a recommendation by the Chief Justice of India; and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy's presentation of his state's caste survey model in Delhi, aimed at serving as a blueprint for a nationwide socio-economic and caste census.
Key Points
- Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation on medical grounds has initiated the election process for a new VP, for which the NDA has a clear majority in the electoral college.
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is set to form a statutory committee to investigate charges against Delhi HC Justice Yashwant Varma, following CJI Sanjiv Khanna's recommendation for impeachment.
- Justice Varma has petitioned the Supreme Court to quash the CJI's recommendation and challenge the legal validity of the in-house inquiry committee.
- Telangana CM Revanth Reddy is presenting his state's comprehensive caste survey model in Delhi, which the Congress intends to push as a template for the upcoming national Census.
Important Terms
Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968
The 1968 statute regulating the procedure for investigating and proving 'proved misbehaviour' or 'incapacity' of Supreme Court and High Court judges before a removal motion in Parliament.
UPSC context
GS Paper II: Judiciary. Tests knowledge of judicial accountability and the specific procedural steps for judge removal.
Telangana Socio Economic, Educational, Employment, Political, and Caste Survey
A state-wide enumeration (SEEEPC) aimed at creating a comprehensive database of caste and socio-economic status to inform targeted welfare policies and potential reservation adjustments.
UPSC context
GS Paper II: Social Justice. Relevant for debates on the 'Caste Census' and data-driven affirmative action.
Parliament
The supreme legislative body of India, comprising the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, empowered to elect the Vice President and remove higher judiciary judges via impeachment.
UPSC context
GS Paper II: Legislature. Tests core concepts of parliamentary control over constitutional offices.
Rajya Sabha
The 'Council of States' where the Vice President serves as ex-officio Chairman; it initiates the formal removal process for a Vice President via a resolution.
UPSC context
GS Paper II: Parliament. Tests knowledge of house-specific powers and the Vice President’s dual role.
Lok Sabha
The 'House of the People' which participates in the electoral college for Vice Presidential elections and helps pass judicial removal motions by a special majority.
UPSC context
GS Paper II: Parliament. Tests the lower house's role in constitutional checks and balances.
Supreme Court of India
India's highest court, which possesses original jurisdiction to decide all doubts and disputes arising out of the election of the Vice President.
UPSC context
GS Paper II: Judiciary. Tests awareness of the court’s role in resolving constitutional election disputes.
Prelims Trap
"A Vice President elected to fill a mid-term vacancy serves only for the remainder of the predecessor's term."
Unlike Panchayats where mid-term successors serve the remaining period, Article 68(2) dictates that a newly elected Vice President serves a full five-year term from the date they enter office.
Static Concepts Connected
How does the Vice President's electoral college differ from the President's?
- Nominated MPs: The VP election electoral college includes both elected and nominated MPs, whereas the President's election includes only elected MPs.
- State MLAs: Elected members of State Legislative Assemblies vote in the Presidential election but have absolutely no role in electing the Vice President.
What is the procedure for the removal of a High Court or Supreme Court Judge?
- Constitutional Grounds: Under the Constitution, judges can only be removed on the strict grounds of "proved misbehaviour or incapacity."
- Initiation Threshold: A removal motion requires signatures of at least 100 Lok Sabha MPs or 50 Rajya Sabha MPs before the presiding officer can admit it.
- Special Majority: The motion must be passed by a majority of the total membership and two-thirds of members present and voting in both Houses.
Cross-Topic Patterns
State Surveys vs Union Census list
Telangana's socio-economic survey highlights federal friction over enumeration. The Union List covers "Census," forcing states to term their exercises "surveys" to avoid legal hurdles under the Census Act 1948.
In-House Procedure & Impeachment
The 1999 In-House Procedure acts as a peer-review filter before parliamentary impeachment, balancing judicial accountability with the strict constitutional need for independence from legislative overreach.
Expect a multi-statement 2026 Polity question contrasting VP and Presidential electoral colleges, alongside Judge impeachment procedures.
Linked PYQs · 4
Linked PYQs · 4
- 2023PrelimsGS1
Consider the following statements: 1. If the election of the President of India is declared void by the Supreme Court of India, all acts done by him/her in the performance of duties of his/her office of President before the date of decision become invalid. 2. Election for the post of the President of India can be postponed on the ground that some Legislative Assemblies have been dissolved and elections are yet to take place. 3. When a Bill is presented to the President of India, the Constitution prescribes time limits within which he/she has to declare his/her assent. How many of the above statements are correct?
- 2023PrelimsGS1
Consider the following statements in respect of election to the President of India: 1. The members nominated to either House of the Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies of States are also eligible to be included in the Electoral College. 2. Higher the number of elective Assembly seats, higher is the value of vote of each MLA of that State. 3. The value of vote of each MLA of Madhya Pradesh is greater than that of Kerala. 4. The value of vote of each MLA of Puducherry is higher than that of Arunachal Pradesh because the ratio of total population to total number of elective seats in Puducherry is greater as compared to Arunachal Pradesh. How many of the above statements are correct?
- 2019PrelimsGS1
Consider the following statements: 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. 2. The Constitution of India defines and gives details of what constitutes 'incapacity and proved misbehaviour' of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India. 3. The details of the process of impeachment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India are given in the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. 4. If the motion for the impeachment of a Judge is taken up for voting, the law requires the motion to be backed by each House of the Parliament and supported by a majority of total membership of that House and by not less than two-thirds of total members of that House present and voting. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 2022MainsGS2
Discuss the role of the National Commission for Backward Classes in the wake of its transformation from a statutory body to a constitutional body.
