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PM Modi wishes Jagdeep Dhankhar 'good health' day after he resigned as VP
In a post on X, PM Modi said, 'Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities, including as the Vice President of India. Wishing him good health.'
Dhankhar, who served as the 14th Vice President of India, stepped down citing health concerns. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, he wrote, 'To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution.'
The resignation came shortly after he presided over the first day of Parliament's Monsoon Session. In his letter, Dhankhar expressed 'deepest gratitude' to President Murmu for her support and their 'soothing wonderful working relationship.' He also thanked the Prime Minister and Cabinet colleagues, saying, 'Prime Minister's cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office.'
Dhankhar, 74, took office in August 2022, succeeding M Venkaiah Naidu. With his early departure, he became the third Vice President in India's history to leave the post before completing the full five-year term.
Who is Jagdeep Dhankhar?
Jagdeep Dhankhar, born on May 18, 1951, in Kithana village, Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, served as the 14th Vice President of India. Elected in August 2022, he was expected to complete his term in 2027. Prior to this role, Dhankhar was the Governor of West Bengal from 2019 to 2022.
Coming from an agrarian background, he completed his schooling at Sainik School, Chittorgarh, and earned a BSc (Hons) in Physics from Maharaja's College, Jaipur. He later obtained an LLB from the University of Rajasthan.
Dhankhar began his legal career in 1979 and was designated a Senior Advocate by the Rajasthan High Court in 1990. He primarily practiced in the Supreme Court, focusing on cases related to steel, coal, mining, and international arbitration. Before becoming Governor, he was the senior-most designated Senior Advocate of the Rajasthan High Court.
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Business Standard
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- Business Standard
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
SC questions Justice Varma's conduct in cash row, reserves order on plea
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A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and A G Masih said the in-house process was put in place in 1999 and the chief justice of India (CJI) cannot be considered as a mere post office. "The Chief Justice of India is not supposed to be a post office only. He has certain duties to the nation as the leader of the judiciary. If material comes to him regarding misconduct, he is only to inform the president and the prime minister. Nothing more. "If on the basis of the material, it is found that misdemeanour is so serious calling for an action, he would be affirming earlier decisions of this court that CJI has the power to do so," Justice Datta remarked orally. The top court reserved its order on Justice Varma's petition challenging the in-house inquiry procedure and the CJI's recommendation for his removal. As the hearing commenced, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Justice Varma, referred to Articles 124 and 218 of the Constitution and said it lays down a complete procedure for the removal of a judge, and any parallel or extra-constitutional mechanism falls outside the framework of the Constitution. Article 124 deals with the appointment and removal of Supreme Court judges, while Article 218 applies the same provisions to high court judges. He said the removal of a judge is governed by the Judges (Inquiry) Act and an in-house inquiry cannot lead to a judge's removal. Sibal submitted that the in-house inquiry panel's recommendation for his removal is unconstitutional. He said the in-house inquiry is merely an administrative procedure and it lacks the safeguards of the ?Judges Inquiry Act, 1968?, such as strict standards of evidence or cross-examination of witnesses. Stating that a recommendation for removal in this manner would set a dangerous precedent, Sibal said a recommendation for removal from the CJI "sounds the death knell" for a judge. Countering Sibal's argument, Justice Datta said three judgments have reaffirmed the in-house procedure after it came into force. The in-house procedure has its origins in the judgments delivered by the Supreme Court, Justice Datta said. When the bench asked what relief Justice Varma was seeking, Sibal replied that he wanted a declaration that the CJI's recommendation for Justice Varma's removal was "non-est" ("not existing") and unconstitutional. Justice Datta said that relief cannot stop the proceedings at this stage. Sibal said when the CJI recommends the removal of a judge on the basis of an in-house procedure which holds great persuasive value. 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"The in-house committee report is a preliminary report and cannot affect future proceedings. We cannot go by newspaper reports," Justice Datta said. "But I cannot challenge the committee report there in Parliament," Sibal said. "If some Parliamentarian says something, even if he is a minister, it matters little," the bench added. "You have to show the violation of procedure was there by the Chief Justice of India. When you know in-house proceedings can trigger impeachment and you think only Parliament can do it, you should have come then and there," the top court said. The top court also pulled advocate Mathews J Nedumpara seeking registration of an FIR against Justice Varma. During the hearing, Justice Datta questioned Nedumpara on whether he had even approached the police with a formal complaint before seeking the registration of an FIR. It also reserved its order on a separate petition filed by Nedumpara seeking registration of an FIR.
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Rajya Sabha allots 2 hours for discussion on extension of President's rule in Manipur
New Delhi, Jul 29 (PTI) The Rajya Sabha has allotted two hours to discuss the resolution to extend President's rule in Manipur for another six months from August 13. Earlier, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat had said, 'Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs; and Minister of Cooperation, has given a notice of the following Resolution which has been admitted:- 'That this House approves the continuance in force of the Proclamation dated the 13 February, 2025 in respect of Manipur, issued under article 356 of the Constitution by the President, for a further period of six months with effect from 13 August, 2025'.' The BJP has been making efforts to form a new government in the state and the Meitei and Naga MLAs have been conducting a month-long campaign pushing for a government in the violence-hit state. President's rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025 after former chief minister N Biren Singh resigned. The state has been witnessing violence with at least 260 people being killed and thousands rendered homeless amid ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023. PTI SKC NKD HVA This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
