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Hours before his resignation, Jagdeep Dhankhar had accepted the Opposition’s notice on the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma in Rajya Sabha.
Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar (PTI File Image)
Hours before he stepped down from the post of the Vice-President in a shock move, a key decision by Jagdeep Dhankhar may have sealed his fate.
On Monday, Dhankhar accepted the Opposition’s proposal in the Rajya Sabha to initiate proceedings for the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma. The government, however, was not informed about the development in advance, sources said.
Before his sudden resignation, Dhankhar had confirmed receiving a motion to remove the high court judge, months after piles of cash were recovered from his residence during a firefighting incident in the national capital.
This caught the Centre unawares, as the government had readied a motion for Justice Varma’s removal, including taking signatures from opposition MPs, and wanted to introduce it in the Lok Sabha.
Dhankhar announced his resignation to the President in a letter, citing health reasons and medical advice.
His resignation has necessitated an election to the office of the Vice President within 60 days of the date of quitting. The decision regarding the date of poll will be taken by the Election Commission of India.
“It does not fall under the jurisdiction of the government. Whether the election will be held during this session or not is entirely the Election Commission’s decision,” sources said.
“Yesterday, Dhankhar accepted the opposition’s proposal to initiate proceedings for the removal of Justice Verma. The government was not informed about this in advance. Had the government been informed, MPs from the ruling party would have also signed the proposal,” they added.
While presiding over the Rajya Sabha proceedings as the Chairman, Dhankhar had said on Monday that he has received a notice for the impeachment of Justice Varma, and directed the Secretary General to “take necessary steps in this direction”.
As Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said in Rajya Sabha that 152 Lok Sabha MPs had submitted a similar resolution to the Speaker, Dhankhar informed that he has received a Notice of Motion for the impeachment of the judge, which was signed by over 50 Rajya Sabha MPs.
“I need to inform you that I have received Notice of Motion…to constitute a statutory committee for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma…This (notice) has been received by me today. It has been signed by more than 50 members of the Council of States. Thus, it meets the numerical requirement of signing by members of Parliament for setting in motion the process of removal of a high court judge…Since the Law Minister is present here and has so indicated that a similar Motion has come to be presented by a requisite number of MPs of Lok Sabha – more than 100, to the Lok Sabha Speaker, the provisions of Section 3(2) will come into effect and the Secretary-General will take necessary steps in this direction,” Dhankhar said.
GOVT VS OPPN
Dhankhar’s resignation has triggered a volley of criticism from the Opposition, with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh calling his exit “inexplicable”.
Congress MP Mallu Ravi also said: “India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar conducted the two-day Rajya Sabha session properly without showing any signs of physical discomfort… His resignation letter states that his health is not suitable, but we feel this is more about his political ill-health than physical ill-health. Especially before the Bihar elections, perhaps the BJP wanted to replace him with someone who could help them.”
CPI(M)’s John Brittas expressed that he was deeply troubled by suggestions that the resignation may not only be due to health reasons. “The entire House was working with him — even today. It is shocking that he has resigned,” Brittas said.
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