Latest news with #NJACAct
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Outspoken Jagdeep Dhankhar questioned Judiciary on overreach, lack of accountability
Jagdeep Dhankhar, known for his outspoken stance as vice president, surprisingly resigned citing health reasons. He frequently criticized the Judiciary on issues like corruption and overreach, particularly after cash was discovered at Justice Varma's residence. Dhankhar questioned the striking down of the NJAC Act and the Judiciary's role, viewing himself as a defender of the system. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads As vice president, Jagdeep Dhankhar often waded into contentious matters of the day, hogging headlines and setting the agenda. But one area that was at the receiving end of his punches more than others was the Judiciary over a gamut of issues ranging from alleged corruption to its a surprise move, Dhankhar stepped down as the vice president on Monday evening citing health cash discovery row at the official residence of Justice Yashwant Varma here in March had given Dhankhar a fresh handle to target the higher judiciary on the issue of corruption and alleged lack of he questioned the courts and its various decisions, Dhankhar described himself as the "foot soldier" of the Judiciary as he was part of the system as a also hit out at "forces with pernicious agenda" out to target institutions, including the Judiciary in his public several of his speeches, as vice president, he questioned the Supreme Court for striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act which sought to overturn the present collegium system. He had wondered how the top court could strike down a law passed with near unanimity by both Houses of had also hit out at MPs for not speaking against the Supreme Court had lamented that there was "no whisper" in Parliament after the Supreme Court struck down the NJAC Act and described it as "too serious an issue".He had also questioned the Judiciary setting a timeline for the president to take decisions and act as a "super Parliament", saying the Supreme Court cannot fire a "nuclear missile" at democratic strong words to the Judiciary came days after the Supreme Court sought to fix a timeline for the president to grant assent to the bills reserved for her consideration by the governor."So, we have judges who will legislate, who will perform executive functions, who will act as super Parliament and absolutely have no accountability because the law of the land does not apply to them," Dhankhar had the discovery of half-burnt wads of cash at Justice Varma's residence, he questioned the absence of an FIR in the case and dubbed the three-member in-house committee formed by the then chief justice of India to investigate the case said the panel's findings were without proper investigative tools which a probe agency has.
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.
