The Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, Harivansh, dismissed a motion filed by Opposition MPs seeking the removal of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, citing procedural lapses and inaccuracies in the proposal.
The unprecedented notice, submitted on December 10 by approximately 60 INDIA bloc MPs, accused Dhankhar of bias and alleged unfair treatment of Opposition members during his tenure. The motion was the first of its kind targeting the chairman of the Upper House in India’s history.
In his decision, Harivansh outlined significant flaws in the notice, including its failure to adhere to constitutional requirements under Article 67(b), which mandates a 14-day notice period before any resolution for the removal of the Vice-President. Since the Rajya Sabha session was set to conclude on December 20, the motion could not legally be considered during the ongoing session.
“The notice appears to be hurriedly drafted, lacking substantive evidence and riddled with inaccuracies, including the misspelling of the Vice-President’s name,” Harivansh stated in his ruling.
He described the motion as an attempt to tarnish the Vice-President’s reputation and undermine a critical constitutional office. “This notice trivializes the dignity of Parliament and misuses its procedures for publicity,” Harivansh added, emphasizing that such actions erode public trust in democratic institutions.
The ruling further criticized the intent of the motion, asserting that it was “an act of impropriety” aimed at damaging the credibility of the Vice-President and the institution of Rajya Sabha.
Opposition leaders expressed disappointment, accusing the ruling of shielding Dhankhar from scrutiny, while government allies defended the decision, highlighting the importance of respecting constitutional processes.
This rejection intensifies the ongoing standoff between the ruling coalition and the Opposition, underscoring the challenges of upholding decorum and accountability in parliamentary democracy.