VICE-PRESIDENT OF INDIA
Who is the Vice President of India?
The Vice President of India is the second-highest constitutional office in the Government of India after the President. He is also the ex officio chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
How is the Vice-President of India elected?
Like the President, the Vice-President is not elected directly by the people but by the method of indirect election. He is elected by an electoral college consisting of all the members of both houses of the Parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote via a secret ballot conducted by the Election Commission of India.
He is eligible for re-election to the office and maybe elected for any number of times.
What is the tenure of the Vice-President?
The Vice-President holds office for a term of 5 years, but can continue to hold his office until his successor assumes office.
How the Vice-President can be removed?
No formal impeachment is required for their removal. He can be removed by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by a special majority agreed by the Lok Sabha. He must be given at least 14 days advance notice. He can be removed from the office before his office term.
What are the functions of the Vice-Presidents?
- He is responsible for the protection of the rights and privileges of the members of the Council of States.
- He decides whether a bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha is a financial bill or not.
- He is also the ex officio chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
- He acts as the President when the office of President is vacant due to his resignation, removal, death or when President is not been able to perform his function due to his health illness or any other cause. This is only for the maximum period of 6 months within which a new President has to be elected.
Some facts related with the Vice-President…
- Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan is the first vice president of India, he took oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 13 May 1952.
- Out of 13 vice presidents, six of them later went on to become the president.
- Krishna Kant has been the only one to die during his tenure.
- He is the Chancellor of Delhi University.