‘Severely flawed’: RS deputy chairman dismisses impeachment notice against Jagdeep Dhankhar

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Thursday dismissed the impeachment notice submitted by Opposition members seeking the removal of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. Citing procedural flaws and a lack of substantiated claims, he termed the notice an act of impropriety aimed at tarnishing the Vice President's reputation.

In a ruling tabled in the House by Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody, Harivansh described the notice as a "misadventure" intended to demean a high constitutional office. He stated that it lacked factual basis and appeared to be part of a calculated effort to malign the Vice President, who holds the distinction of being the first individual from the agricultural community to assume the role.

The impeachment notice, signed by at least 60 Opposition members on December 10, 2024, was moved under Article 67(b) of the Constitution, citing alleged bias and a lack of trust in Dhankhar. However, Harivansh pointed out that Article 67(b) mandates a 14-day notice period for such resolutions, making it procedurally impossible to table the motion during the ongoing 266th session of the Rajya Sabha, scheduled to conclude on December 20, 2024.

Harivansh criticised the move as a deliberate attempt to create a narrative against the Vice President and the constitutional office. He noted that the resolution was timed to coincide with the session despite knowledge that it could not be addressed within the stipulated period.

The Deputy Chairman also condemned a coordinated media campaign initiated by Opposition leaders, including a televised press conference and a 10-point social media post by the Leader of the Opposition on December 12, 2024. He stated that such actions deviated from institutional decorum and appeared to be designed to undermine constitutional institutions and the Vice President personally.

Drawing from precedent, Harivansh referred to a similar rejection of an impeachment notice by then-Chairman Venkaiah Naidu in September 2020 due to procedural impropriety. In this case, Chairman Dhankhar had recused himself from addressing the notice, entrusting Harivansh to make the ruling.

The Deputy Chairman emphasised that the notice was a calculated attempt to gain publicity, malign the Vice President, and trivialise the dignity of constitutional offices.