Latest news with #AppointmentsCommission
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Clashes, controversies, constitutional confrontations: Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden VP exit captures an eventful tenure
Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down unexpectedly on Monday, bringing a dramatic end to a tenure defined by sharp exchanges, high drama with Opposition leader, and several contentious interventions in the Rajya Sabha . The timing of his resignation raised eyebrows—it came just hours after he presided over the Upper House and admitted a motion backed by 68 Opposition MPs seeking the removal of Allahabad High Court's Justice Yashwant Varma, in connection with the controversial cashpile case. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Degree others MCA Management Cybersecurity Product Management Others Leadership Project Management Healthcare Operations Management Technology Design Thinking Digital Marketing healthcare CXO Finance MBA Public Policy PGDM Data Analytics Artificial Intelligence Data Science Data Science Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making Strategic Leadership and Transformation Global Business Acumen Comprehensive Business Expertise Duration: 2 Years University of Western Australia UWA Global MBA Starts on Jun 28, 2024 Get Details Controversial start as RJ Chairman Dhankhar assumed the office of Vice President—and with it, the role of Rajya Sabha Chairperson—in August 2022. His arrival was anything but quiet. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo During his first Winter Session, he publicly criticised the Supreme Court's 2015 decision to nullify the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act. Calling it a 'glaring compromise' of the legislature's authority, Dhankhar signalled early on that he wouldn't shy away from challenging judicial verdicts—an unusual and provocative posture for someone in his constitutional role. Live Events Frequent clashes with Opposition MPs Dhankhar's interactions with Opposition members often veered into conflict. In August 2023, amid mounting pressure from the Opposition for PM Modi to speak in the Rajya Sabha on the violence in Manipur, Dhankhar flatly declined to summon the PM, arguing it was up to him—as with any MP—to decide when to attend. The relationship further deteriorated in the Winter Session of 2023, when an unprecedented 146 lawmakers—mostly from Opposition benches—were suspended for insisting on a discussion about a breach of security within Parliament. The mass suspension, the largest in Indian legislative history, only widened the chasm between Dhankhar and the Opposition. Impeachment threat In December 2024, Dhankhar faced a rare challenge: a no-confidence motion filed by the Opposition, making him the first Vice President to face such a prospect. Though the motion didn't advance, it reflected how deeply polarising his term had become. Contentious remarks & political stances Throughout his vice-presidency, Dhankhar was frequently criticised for partisan rhetoric: He waved away Opposition efforts to raise the farmers' protest, dismissing them as insincere 'crocodile tears,' prompting walkouts. When Opposition leaders sought to debate the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the Paris Olympics, he accused them of exploiting the athlete's situation for political mileage. He openly praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), calling it a 'global think tank' with an 'unquestionable' role in nation-building—a remark that aligned him closely with the ruling party's worldview. And in veiled digs, Dhankhar accused certain constitutional figures of acting as 'enemies of the nation,' remarks widely interpreted as targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Tumultuous tenure as Bengal Governor Before rising to the Vice Presidency, Dhankhar served as the Governor of West Bengal, where he had a famously combative equation with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. His time there was punctuated by frequent criticism of the state government—on issues ranging from post-poll violence and law enforcement to allegations of corruption and irregular university appointments. In retaliation, the Trinamool-led state government accused him of sitting on crucial legislation. The face-off peaked in 2022 when the state legislature passed a law stripping the Governor of the role of university chancellor—assigning it instead to the Chief Minister, in a clear rebuke of his assertive approach.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns as Vice President; here's how he made headlines
Jagdeep Dhankhar, who was serving as the 14th Vice President of India, resigned from his office on Monday with immediate effect. Dhankhar, who was also the Rajya Sabha chairman, cited health reasons for his resignation. His resignation came hours after he presided over the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament. In a letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar said, '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.' Hours after Dhankhar resigned, the opposition raised questions over his exit, with the Congress party claiming that that is far more to his resignation than meets the eye. Taking to X, Congress' Jairam Ramesh said, 'The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is inexplicable. I was with him alongside a number of other MPs till around 5 pm today and had spoken to him over the phone at 7.30 pm.' Apart from his unexpected resignation, here's how Dhankhar made headlines during his vice-presidential term: 1. In December 2024, Jagdeep Dhankhar became the first person to hold the second-highest constitutional posts in the nation, to face the prospects of impeachment. Congress-led INDIA bloc submitted a no-confidence motion against him, alleging biased functioning of the House under his leadership. Soon after, both Houses of Parliament witnessed raucous 48 hours. 2. Shortly after assuming office in August 2022, Jagdeep Dhankhar's tenure as Rajya Sabha chairman began amid controversy. During the Parliament's winter session that year, he criticised the Supreme Court's 2015 decision on National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, a 'glaring instance' of 'severe compromise' of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the 'mandate of the people'. 3. In August 2023, Dhankhar told Opposition members that he neither could nor would compel Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the House, asserting that such a decision lay solely with the Prime Minister. That same year, tensions escalated when 146 Members of Parliament from both Houses were suspended after demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding a major security breach within the Parliament complex. 4. Earlier in April this year, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal accused Dhankhar of being biased and criticised the latter's objection to Article 142 of the Indian Constitution, which allows the Supreme Court to pass any order necessary to ensure 'complete justice.' 5. Earlier this month, Dhankhar inaugurated Jawaharlal Nehru University's first academic conference on Indian Knowledge Systems. A brief scuffle broke out after JNUSU office-bearers, including president Nitish Kumar, who came in a wheelchair, were stopped midway by the security as they tried to march towards the convention centre where Dhankhar was speaking.
Hans India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Vice President Dhankhar's Tenure Marked by Persistent Queries on NJAC and Basic Structure
Jagdeep Dhankhar NJAC speech, cut short by his sudden resignation from the constitutional office late on Monday evening, was peppered with controversies as he took on not just the Opposition but also the judiciary on several occasions. It came after a term as West Bengal Governor during which he had a run-in with the TMC government in the state on several issues. In 2022, he began his Rajya Sabha Chairman stint on a controversial note in the Winter Session as he said the Supreme Court's 2015 judgment striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission NJAC Act was a 'glaring instance' of 'severe compromise' of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the 'mandate of the people'. He said Parliament, as the custodian of the 'ordainment of the people', was duty-bound to 'NJAC vs Basic Structure doctrine issue' and expressed confidence that 'it will do so'. His remarks, which he made in the House on December 7, were a repetition of what he had said a week earlier. Dhankhar also said it was time for 'all constitutional institutions to reflect and give quietus to public display of adversarially challenging stance/trading or exchange of advisories emanating from these platforms'. His comments came at a time when the Opposition was planning to seek a discussion in the House on alleged government interference in the working of constitutional bodies, including a judicial independence India. A month earlier, then Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju had said the Collegium system of appointing judges was 'opaque' and 'not accountable' and 'alien' to the Basic Structure of Constitution. His remarks had invited the displeasure of Jagdeep Dhankhar Supreme Court remarks.
