
Jagdeep Dhankhar draws curtains on a stormy Rajya Sabha run
Dhankhar was elected Vice-President in August 2022 and his term as the Rajya Sabha Chairman began on a controversial note during the Winter Session that year as he called the Supreme Court's 2015 judgment striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act a 'glaring instance' of 'severe compromise' of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the 'mandate of the people'.
Since then, there have been several instances when he and Opposition MPs have not seen eye to eye.
In August 2023, Dhankhar told the Opposition that he 'could not and would not' direct Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be present in the House as it was the PM's prerogative like any other MP to come to Parliament. He made this statement as the Opposition benches continued to demand the PM's presence in the Rajya Sabha to address them on the issue of violence in Manipur.
The ties between the Rajya Sabha Chairman and the Opposition hit a low during the Winter Session last year when 146 MPs were suspended from both Houses of Parliament, mostly over their demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on a Parliament security breach, followed by a discussion on the matter. It was the highest-ever number of suspensions in a Parliament session.
As the proceedings came to a halt, Dhankhar wrote to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Upper House, about the 'acrimony and disruptions'. Kharge replied saying that 'he was firmly in favour of dialogue and discussion'. In his letter, Dhankhar highlighted that the latter's 'refusal to meet him to resolve the political stalemate' was 'not in sync with parliamentary practices' and sought a meeting. Kharge had declined Dhankhar's invitation and in a letter said that the mass suspension of MPs was 'premeditated' and 'weaponised' by the ruling party to sabotage parliamentary practices.
In June 2024, Dhankhar courted controversy after Kharge entered the Well of House during a protest against paper leaks, with Dhankhar saying this was the first time that a LoP had done such a thing and called it a 'stain' on Parliament. Kharge responded by saying he was trying to grab the attention of the Chairman who was looking towards the Treasury benches.
In July 2024, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal questioned the manner in which the Upper House was being run by Dhankhar and claimed that in no country the presiding officer of a House 'frequently interrupts' members during their speeches.
The same month, Dhankhar said the RSS has 'unimpeachable credentials' and Constitutional rights to contribute to the development of the nation. 'RSS is an organisation which is a global think tank of the highest order…,' he said in the House while responding to a comment from Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman that the government's main criterion for appointments was if a person belongs to the RSS.
In September 2024, in an apparent reference to Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Dhankhar, without naming him, said nothing was more condemnable than someone holding a Constitutional post becoming 'part of enemies of the nation'. Dhankhar was speaking at Parliament to the third batch of the Rajya Sabha internship programme. During his visit to the United States that week, Gandhi said 'love, respect, and humility' were missing from Indian politics.
In December last year, Dhankhar became the first person holding one of the top two constitutional posts to face the prospect of impeachment as the Opposition submitted a notice to move a no-confidence motion against him, a first in Indian Parliamentary history.
However, after 60 INDIA bloc MPs gave a notice in the Rajya Sabha to bring a resolution for removal of Dhankhar, Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected it, saying the petition was 'severely flawed', does not adhere to the requirement of 14 days' notice period and was 'drawn in haste and hurry' to 'mar the reputation' of Dhankhar and to 'damage the constitutional institution'.
Earlier this year, in April, after the Supreme Court ruling set a three-month timeline for the President to decide on Bills referred by Governors of states, Dhankhar had said that India cannot have a situation where the judiciary directs the President. While the Supreme Court ruling addressed the long-running dispute between Governors and Opposition-ruled state governments, Dhankhar added that his worries are at the 'very highest level' and asked, 'There is a directive to the President by a recent judgement. Where are we heading? What is happening in the country?'
Most recently, in June, Dhankhar waded into the political debate over the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble, referring to their addition to the Constitution by the Indira Gandhi government during the Emergency as 'sacrilege to the spirit of sanatan'. 'These words have been added as nasoor (festering wound). These words will create upheaval. Addition of these words in the Preamble during the Emergency signal betrayal of the mindset of the framers of the Constitution,' he said.
Before he was elected Vice-President, Dhankhar served as the Governor of West Bengal when he had several run-ins with the government of Mamata Banerjee and became a vocal critic of the state administration.
From the law and order situation in the state and post-poll violence to corruption accusations, alleged lapses in bureaucracy and the appointment of vice-chancellors in state universities, Dhankhar never shied away from criticising the government, which accused him of sitting on important BIlls. The situation took a turn for the worse when the state government in 2022 replaced the Governor with the CM as chancellor of state universities.
His relationship with Mamata Banerjee became so acrimonious that the CM even blocked Dhankhar on social media. His relationship with Speaker Biman Banerjee was no less bitter, with the Speaker in 2021 complaining to then President Ram Nath Kovind about Dhankhar allegedly interfering in matters of the government.
Born into a farmer's family at Kithana village in Jhunjhunu district in 1951, Dhankhar studied at a local government school before going to Sainik school in Chittorgarh. He studied law at the University of Rajasthan and became a professional lawyer, going on to serve as the president of the Rajasthan High Court Bar Association.
Dhankhar started his political journey with the Janata Dal and in 1989, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Jhunjhunu. After that, he moved to state politics and was elected to the Rajasthan Assembly in 1993 from Kishangarh on a Congress ticket. He again tried his luck in the Lok Sabha elections in 1998 but lost from Jhunjhunu. Starting that year, Dhankhar served as a full-time senior advocate in the Supreme Court and in 2003 switched to the BJP. He advised the party on important legal matters.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India Today
31 minutes ago
- India Today
What happens if both Houses pass motion for removal of judge on same day?
On the opening day of the Monsoon Session, members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha submitted notices seeking the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court, prompting the initiation of a constitutionally mandated inquiry process into the Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, who has since resigned, acknowledged receipt of the notice in the Upper House, thereby setting in motion the process under the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968. Justice Varma came under scrutiny after large bundles of burnt currency notes were discovered at his residence in Delhi in March this Judges Inquiry Act lays out the process for investigating allegations against a sitting judge. A notice for removal must be signed by at least 100 members in the Lok Sabha or 50 in the Rajya Sabha. In this instance, the motion was submitted in both Houses on the same day — a procedural requirement for joint action under the Act. Under Section 3 of the Act, the presiding officers — the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha — must first consult relevant authorities before admitting the motion. If admitted by both Houses, they are then required to jointly constitute a three-member inquiry committee will include a Supreme Court judge (who may also be the Chief Justice of India), a Chief Justice of a High Court, and a distinguished jurist. The committee is tasked with framing definite charges and presenting them to the judge. Justice Varma will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond in cases alleging incapacity, the judge may be directed to undergo a medical examination. The central government may also be asked to appoint an advocate to conduct the case against the judge if requested by the presiding completing its inquiry, the committee must submit a detailed report with findings on each charge. This report is to be laid before both Houses of Parliament at the earliest possible simultaneous submission of notices in both Houses ensures that the process moves forward under strict constitutional guidelines. If the committee finds the judge guilty of misbehaviour or incapacity, and both Houses adopt the motion for removal by a two-thirds majority, the President may remove the judge.- EndsTune InMust Watch


Mint
35 minutes ago
- Mint
What Jagdeep Dhankhar gets after resignation as VP: ₹2 lakh pension, free air travel, bungalow, more
Type VIII government bungalow, ₹ 2 lakh pension, free air and rail travel, free healthcare and personal assistants are some of the perks Jagdeep Dhankhar will receive after resigning as the Vice President of India. Jagdeep Dhankhar shocked the nation when he tendered his resignation on the first day of Parliament's Monsoon Session. A day later on Tuesday, July 22, sources privy to the developments around the former Vice President said that the Dhankhars have also started packing their belongings to soon move out of the Vice President's Enclave in New Delhi. As a former vice president, he is entitled to a government bungalow – a Type VIII bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi or another area. Not just a government bungalow, Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be entitled to a pension and other facilities even after his resignation, a Live Hindustan report said. According to the Vice President's Pension Act, 'a retired Vice-President shall be entitled to travel anywhere in India, by the highest class, by air, rail or steamer, accompanied by spouse or a companion or relative.' Jagdeep Dhankhar would also be entitled to free healthcare, along with a private doctor. Dhankhar will be assigned two personal assistants (PAs), while his wife will receive the services of a private secretary. The government will also cover the electricity and water bills for the bungalow allotted to the former Vice President. Also Read | Vice President election: NDA vs Opposition, who has the edge? According to the 2018 Budget, the Vice President's salary was hiked to ₹ 48 lakh per annum and they are entitled to receive 50-60 per cent of their salary in the form of pension. Therefore, Jagdeep Dhankhar might receive more than ₹ 2 lakh as pension amount. Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday, citing health concerns. However, the Congress on Tuesday claimed that the reasons behind his resignation as Vice President go "far deeper" than the stated health issues.


Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
Lok Sabha stays in pause mode, now over roll revision protest
Opposition protests over the Special Incentive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls disrupted the Lok Sabha for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, resulting in three forced adjournments. In the din of Opposition sloganeering, sports minister Mansukh Madaviya introduced the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, which, among other things, proposes an umbrella rule for various sports governing bodies, and the Anti-doping (Amendment) Bill, providing greater operational independence to the anti-doping agency. As soon as the House commenced, the INDIA bloc MPs started protesting against SIR, indulged in sloganeering and trooped to the well of the House. As many MPs were holding placards and some SP members were waving black shawls, Speaker Om Birla warned of action for such conduct before he adjourned the House till noon. Similar protests forced two more adjournments, after noon and at 2 pm. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Public Policy Operations Management CXO PGDM Cybersecurity Finance Management healthcare Healthcare Degree Data Science MCA Artificial Intelligence Data Science Project Management Digital Marketing others Technology Design Thinking Others Product Management Data Analytics MBA Leadership Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Calcutta Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Economics for Public Policy Making Quantitative Techniques Public & Project Finance Law, Health & Urban Development Policy Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate Programme in Public Policy Management Starts on Mar 3, 2024 Get Details Outside Parliament, INDIA bloc MPs held a joint dharna, demanding that the Election Commission withdraw the SIR drive. Speaking to media persons, leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi , said the SIR was a new ploy by the ECI to delete voters from the list and he once again alleged the election was being stolen in India. "They (EC) have done cheating in Maharashtra (assembly elections). We asked the ECI to show the voters' list, but they refused. We asked them to show videography, but they changed the rules of videography. Around 1 crore new voters were added in Maharashtra. In Karnataka, we have caught a huge theft. I will show it to the Election Commission in black and white how the theft is done. They have understood that we are aware of their game now. Now, what they are doing is they have deleted the voters, and a new voters' list will be brought. Elections are being stolen in India," he said.