Vice President Emphasizes Impartiality for New Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar advised newly appointed Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman S. Radhakrishnan to remain impartial in his role.
Quick Revision
S. Radhakrishnan chaired his first session as Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar advised him to remain impartial.
The role of a presiding officer requires neutrality to ensure fair debate and orderly conduct.
The Deputy Chairman is elected by the Rajya Sabha from among its members.
Visual Insights
Impartiality: Cornerstone of Parliamentary Presiding Officers
This mind map illustrates the central role of impartiality for presiding officers in the Indian Parliament, connecting the Vice President, Rajya Sabha, and the newly appointed Deputy Chairman to this fundamental constitutional principle.
Impartiality of Presiding Officers
- ●Impartiality of Presiding Officers
- ●Vice President (Chairman of Rajya Sabha)
- ●Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
- ●S. Radhakrishnan (New Deputy Chairman)
Exam Angles
Constitutional provisions related to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
Powers and functions of presiding officers in both Houses of Parliament.
Comparison of the roles and removal processes of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chairman, and Deputy Chairman.
The concept of impartiality and its importance in parliamentary democracy.
Parliamentary procedures and conventions related to the conduct of business.
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Summary
As S. Radhakrishnan took the chair for his first session as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar offered some key advice: maintain impartiality.
What's the significance? The role of a presiding officer in Parliament, whether it's the Speaker of Lok Sabha or the Chairman/Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, is to be an unbiased umpire, ensuring fair debate and orderly conduct of business. This advice underscores the critical importance of neutrality in parliamentary proceedings, especially in a politically charged environment, to uphold the dignity of the house and ensure all voices are heard fairly.
Background
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Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. With reference to the presiding officers of the Rajya Sabha, consider the following statements: 1. The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament. 2. The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is elected by the members of the Rajya Sabha from amongst themselves. 3. A resolution for the removal of the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha can be moved only after giving 14 days' advance notice. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: D
Statement 1 is correct. Article 64 states that the Vice-President shall be ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States. Article 66(1) states the Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament. Statement 2 is correct. Article 89(2) states that the Council of States shall, as soon as may be, choose a member of the Council to be Deputy Chairman thereof. Statement 3 is correct. Article 90(c) states that a Deputy Chairman may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Council passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council, provided that no resolution for the purpose of this clause shall be moved unless at least fourteen days' notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution.
2. In the context of maintaining impartiality of presiding officers in the Indian Parliament, which of the following statements is NOT correct?
- A.The salary and allowances of the Speaker of Lok Sabha are charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India.
- B.The Speaker of Lok Sabha is expected to resign from their political party after election, though it is a convention and not a constitutional mandate.
- C.The Chairman of Rajya Sabha can be removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the Rajya Sabha.
- D.The presiding officer of a House does not vote in the first instance but can exercise a casting vote in case of a tie.
Show Answer
Answer: C
Statement A is correct. Article 112(3)(b) ensures the independence of the Speaker. Statement B is correct. While not constitutionally mandated, it's a strong convention in some parliamentary democracies (like the UK) and often discussed in India to enhance impartiality. Statement D is correct. This is a standard practice for presiding officers to maintain neutrality and break deadlocks. Statement C is NOT correct. The Chairman of Rajya Sabha is the Vice-President of India. The Vice-President can be removed from office by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the Rajya Sabha and agreed to by the Lok Sabha (Article 67(b)). The removal is as Vice-President, not specifically as Chairman of Rajya Sabha by Rajya Sabha alone.
3. Consider the following statements regarding the powers and functions of the Speaker of Lok Sabha and the Chairman of Rajya Sabha: 1. Both the Speaker and the Chairman have the power to certify a Money Bill. 2. Both can adjourn their respective Houses or suspend a meeting in the absence of a quorum. 3. The decision of both on questions of disqualification of a member under the Tenth Schedule is final. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: B
Statement 1 is incorrect. Only the Speaker of Lok Sabha has the power to certify a Money Bill (Article 110(3)). The Chairman of Rajya Sabha does not have this power. Statement 2 is correct. Both presiding officers have the power to adjourn the House or suspend a meeting in case of lack of quorum or disorder. Statement 3 is incorrect. While the Speaker's decision on disqualification under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-defection law) is final (subject to judicial review as per Kihoto Hollohan case), the Chairman of Rajya Sabha also has this power for Rajya Sabha members, but the question implies both have the power for 'a member' generally, and the key distinction is that the Speaker's role in Money Bill certification is unique. More importantly, the question asks about 'both' having the power for 'a member' under the Tenth Schedule, which is true for their respective houses, but the phrasing can be tricky. However, the most definitively incorrect statement is 1. If we consider 'a member' to mean a member of their respective house, then 3 would be correct. But given the options, and the clear incorrectness of statement 1, let's re-evaluate. The most distinct difference is Money Bill. The question is about 'both' having the power. The Speaker has the power for Lok Sabha members, and the Chairman for Rajya Sabha members. So, 'both' have this power for 'a member' of their respective houses. However, the phrasing 'decision of both on questions of disqualification of a member' is slightly ambiguous. The most straightforward interpretation is that both have this power. Let's re-examine the options. If 1 is incorrect, then A and D are out. Between B and C, if 3 is correct, then C is the answer. If 3 is incorrect, then B is the answer. The Speaker and Chairman *both* decide on disqualification under the Tenth Schedule for members of *their respective houses*. So, statement 3 is technically correct in principle. However, the most universally accepted unique power is Money Bill certification. Let's assume the question intends to highlight the unique power of the Speaker. If we strictly interpret 'a member' as any member, then it's correct that both have the power for members of their respective houses. But the most common UPSC trap is the Money Bill. Let's stick to the most definitive incorrectness. Statement 1 is unequivocally incorrect for the Chairman. Therefore, options A and D are eliminated. Now, between B (only 2) and C (2 and 3). Statement 2 is definitely correct. Statement 3: Both Speaker and Chairman decide on disqualification under the Tenth Schedule for their respective members. So, statement 3 is also correct. This means C should be the answer. Let's re-read the question carefully. 'Which of the statements given above is/are correct?'. If 1 is wrong, and 2 and 3 are correct, then C is the answer. My initial assessment of 3 being 'incorrect' was a slight overthinking. Both *do* have that power for their respective houses. So, C is the correct answer.