What are powers of Indian Vice-President?
Q. Which of the following is/are true regarding powers of Vice-President (VP) of India?
1) American VP does not act as chairman of upper House.
2) VP of India can act as President only for a maximum period of six months.- Published on 28 Feb 17a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: Only 2
- All doubts and disputes in connection with election of the Vice-President are inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court whose decision is final.
- The election of a person as Vice-President cannot be challenged on the ground that the electoral college was incomplete (i.e., existence of any vacancy among the members of electoral college).
- If the election of a person as Vice-President is declared void by the Supreme Court, acts done by him before the date of such declaration of the Supreme Court are not invalidated (i.e., they continue to remain in force).
Powers and Functions -
1. He acts as the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
2. In this capacity, his powers and functions are similar to those of the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
3. In this respect, he resembles the American Vice-President who also acts as the Chairman of the Senate - the Upper House of the American legislature.
4. He acts as President when a vacancy occurs in the office of the President due to his resignation, removal, death or otherwise. (On death of Dr Zakir Hussain and Fakruddin Ali Ahmed, in office, the then respective Vice-Presidents, V V Giri and B D Jatti acted as President).
5. He can act as President only for a maximum period of six months within which a new President has to be elected.
6. Further, when the sitting President is unable to discharge his functions due to absence, illness or any other cause, the Vice-President discharges his functions until the President resumes his office. The Vice-President Dr S. Radhakrishnan discharged the functions of the President in June1960 when the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad was on a 15-day tour to the USSR and again in July 1961 when he (Dr Rajendra Prasad) was very ill.
- While acting as President or discharging the functions of President, the Vice-President does not perform the duties of the office of the chairman of Rajya Sabha.
- During this period, those duties are performed by the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
