Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s departure has once again highlighted the constitutional safeguards for India’s parliamentary system’s continuity.
Mid-term vice presidential resignations are uncommon, but they do happen, and the Constitution provides a clear path forward.
In accordance with Article 67(a), which permits voluntary resignation, the President publicly recognized Dhankhar’s choice to resign with immediate effect. Since the Vice President is the Rajya Sabha’s ex-officio Chairman, this absence inevitably calls into doubt the body’s leadership.
However, legislative insiders and legal experts have emphasized that there is little chance of a constitutional crisis.
“Dhankhar’s resignation has been accepted with immediate effect, and the constitutional provisions come into play,” said Supreme Court attorney and constitutional expert Virag Gupta.
Numerous vice presidents have resigned even before this. Since the Vice President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Upper House, their duties are taken on by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha while they are not present.
The smooth operation of legislative business is ensured by this institutional system. Gupta emphasized that this transition will not lead to a constitutional crisis.
“The Rajya Sabha’s leadership is unaffected because the Deputy Chairman position is filled, unlike the Lok Sabha, even though the Vice President plays a significant procedural role in Parliament.”
The resignation procedure is well-established, and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha takes up the duty of presiding over its sessions when Dhankhar is not present.
This shift is based on constitutional protocol, which ensures that the legislative process continues unhindered, rather than being ad hoc.
It’s interesting to note that the Rajya Sabha has kept its leadership structure, guaranteeing the chamber’s operational stability, whereas the Lok Sabha’s position of Deputy Speaker has been unfilled for a long time. During this interregnum, Parliament is protected from any procedural paralysis by the active Deputy Chairman.
The Deputy Chairman will remain in charge of managing operations and maintaining parliamentary standards until a new Vice President is chosen, which must happen within six months.
Even though the vice president’s job in Indian governance is not executive in nature, it is essential to the Upper House’s operation. Therefore, his resignation triggers a series of institutional reactions that protect democratic continuity, making it more than just a personal or political moment.
The Rajya Sabha’s ability to function safely while the political elite prepares to pick a new vice president is evidence of the tenacity and vision ingrained in India’s constitution.
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