In an unprecedented move, the Opposition on Tuesday (December 10) gave notice for a motion of no-confidence against Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is also the Vice President of India. This marks the first instance in India’s parliamentary history where such a motion has been initiated against the Rajya Sabha Chairperson.
A similar motion was reportedly considered during the Budget Session in August but was not pursued at the time.
Under Article 64 of the Indian Constitution, the Vice President of India serves as the ex officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. Consequently, the process for removing the Rajya Sabha Chairperson aligns with the removal process for the Vice President, as outlined in Article 67.
According to Article 67(b), the Vice President can be removed from office if:
A resolution is passed by a majority of “all the then members of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha).”
The resolution is agreed upon by the House of the People (Lok Sabha).
The procedure mandates a 14-day notice period for the resolution before it is brought to the floor for discussion.
Once the 14-day notice period expires, the Rajya Sabha may take up the resolution for debate and vote, following the constitutional provisions. However, with the Winter Session of Parliament scheduled to conclude on December 20—less than 14 days away—it remains unclear whether the resolution will be addressed in the current session.
There is also uncertainty regarding whether the resolution could carry over to the next session, as there are no established precedents for such a scenario.
While the procedural outcome appears unlikely to favor the Opposition due to the arithmetic in Parliament, this move is viewed as a symbolic protest. The Opposition alleges that Vice President Dhankhar has displayed partisanship in conducting the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha, leading to growing dissatisfaction among its members.