VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA

                                                                         VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA

Introduction

The Vice-President of India is the second highest constitutional office in the country. He serves for a five-year term, but can continue to be in office, irrespective of the expiry of the term until the successor assumes office.
Art. 63 declares: “There shall be a Vice-President of India That is the office cannot remain vacant.

Election

Qualifications

A person cannot be elected as Vice-President unless he

• is a citizen of India
• has completed the age of 35 years, and
• is qualified for election as a member of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha).

Under Article: 102. a person cannot become a Member of Sabha or Rajya Sabha if he is of unsound mind and a competent court has declared so, an undischarged insolvent, has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign state or if he has been disqualified under any parliamentary law.

A person is not eligible if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or a State Government or any subordinate local authority (Art. 66.4)

The Vice-Presidents not a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of a legislature of any state. If a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of a legislature of any state is elected as Vice-President, he is deemed to have vacated his seat in that House on the date he/she enters his office as Vice-President (Art.662).

Manner of election

The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament, in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting in such election is by secret ballot. The Electoral College to elect a person to the office of the Vice-President consists of all members of both Houses of Parliament unlike that of the President of India where nominated members of the Parliament have no role.

Superintendence of the Election of the Vice-President

The Election Commission of India conducts the election to the office of the Vice- President.

Important Provisions relating to the Election of the Vice-President are:

The election of the next Vice-President is to be held within 60 days of the expiry of the term of office of the outgoing Vice-President.

The Returning Officer appointed to conduct the Vice-Presidential sections is the Secretary-General of either House of the Parliament by rotation.

Any person qualified to be elected and intending to stand for election as Vice-President is required to be nominated by at least 20 MPs as proposers and at least 20 MPs as seconders.

A candidate seeking election as Vice-President is required to make a security deposit of Rs. 15,000/-. He loss the security deposit if he does not secure 1/6th of the valid votes.

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1. Consider the following statements.

1) The Election of Vice-President does not include the members of the State Legislative Assemblies.
2) The Vice-President should be qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
3) The nomination of a candidate for election to the office of Vice-President must be subscribed by at least 20 electors as proposers and 20 electors as seconders.

Which of the statement given above is / are correct.

a) 1 only 
b) 1, 2 only
c) 1, 3 only 
d) 1, 2 & 3   (ans)

2. Consider the following statements.

1) The Vice-President acts as the ex-officio chairman of Rajya Sabha.
2) In the absence of President, the Vice-President act as President only for a maximum period three month.

Which of the statement given above is / are correct.

a) 1 only 
b) 1, 2 only
c) Both 1 & 2 
d) Neither 1 nor 2

ans-A

Q3,Consider the following statements.

1) The Vice-President can be removed from office by a Resolution of the council of states (Rajya Sabha) agreed to by the House of the people (Lok-Sabha).
2) The Vice-President can remove only by the cause of 'violation of the constitution'.

Which of the statement given above is / are correct.

a) 1 only 
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans-A

4. Consider the following statements:

1.An election petition calling in question an election to the office of Vice-president may be presented by an candidate at such election or by any ten or more electors joined together as petitioners.
2 According to Article 71 of the constitution, all doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with the election of President or Vice-president shall be inquired into and decided by the chief election commissioner.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) only 1
b) only 2
c) both 1 and 2
d) neither 1 nor 2

ANS-A

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