‘Parliament is supreme’, asserts Dhankhar after facing flak for slamming SC

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, while reacting to the controversy over his criticism of the judiciary, asserted on Tuesday (April 22) that the “Parliament is supreme” and that there is no visualisation in the Constitution of any authority above Parliament.

Addressing a Delhi University event, he said every word spoken by a constitutional functionary is guided by the “supreme interest of the nation”.

“No visualisation in Constitution of any authority above Parliament”

“I find it conceivably intriguing that some have recently reflected that constitutional offices can be ceremonial, ornamental. Nothing can be far distanced from a wrong understanding of the role of everyone in this country — constitutional functionary or a citizen,” he said.

Also read: Dhankhar’s critique of judiciary: Simple outburst or executive overreach?

“Constitution is for the people and it’s a repository of safeguarding it... [Elected representatives] are the ultimate masters as to what Constitution content will be. There is no visualisation in Constitution of any authority above Parliament. Parliament is supreme and that being the situation, let me tell you, it is as supreme as every individual in the country,” Dhankhar said.

Dhankhar’s criticism of apex court

A Supreme Court Bench had recently prescribed a three-month timeline for the President to decide on Bills reserved by Governors for her nod. Reacting to the directive, Dhankhar said on Friday that India had not bargained for a democracy where judges will legislate, perform Executive functions and act as a “super Parliament”.

“There is a directive to the President by a recent judgement ... President being called upon to decide in a time-bound manner, and if not, becomes law,” Dhankhar had said.

Also read: ‘President only a titular head’: Kapil Sibal’s salvo at Dhankhar for dig at judiciary

The Vice-President was criticised for questioning the judiciary over the timeline for the President to take decisions, calling it “unconstitutional”.

“Every word by a Constitutional authority is guided by Constitution”

Speaking on Tuesday, Dhankhar also stressed on the importance of conversation in a democracy. “Our silence might be very dangerous. Thinking minds have to be contributors to preserving our legacy… Every word by a Constitutional authority is guided by the Constitution.”

Dhankhar’s renewed criticism comes just a day after the Supreme Court briefly remarked on allegations of “judicial overreach” by a section of BJP leaders while hearing a petition seeking President’s rule and the deployment of paramilitary forces in West Bengal.

Also read: If governors breach boundaries, the judiciary has to step in

Justice BR Gavai, who is slated to be the next Chief Justice of India, said, “You want us to issue a writ of mandamus to the President to impose this? As it is, we are facing allegations of encroaching into the Executive (domain).”

(With agency inputs)