Amid BJP leaders lashing out at the Supreme Court and crying for Parliament’s loftiness over any constitutional institution, including the apex court, despite it being the only institution empowered to interpret and uphold the Constitution, the Vice President reiterated that no authority stands above Parliament.
He continued his dismissive remarks while addressing a gathering at Delhi University to mark 75 years of the Constitution. Speaking at the ‘Kartavyam’ event, Dhankhar stressed that there is no provision in the Constitution for any authority above Parliament and asserted that it is the elected representatives who ultimately determine the content of the Constitution.
Referring to the imposition of Emergency in 1975 and the subsequent electoral defeat of Indira Gandhi in 1977, Dhankhar said the episode exemplified how elected leaders are accountable to the public and how the electorate exercises its will decisively.
The Vice President’s remarks come amid growing tensions between the judiciary and the executive, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s April 8 ruling, which directed the President to act on Bills forwarded by state Governors within three months.
The court’s verdict was issued in the context of Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi’s delay in granting assent to ten Bills passed by the state legislature, and the bench held that Governors could not employ a ‘pocket veto’ and must respond within a reasonable time.
Dhankhar had criticised this ruling last week, arguing that the judiciary cannot direct the President and cautioning against a situation where judges assume the roles of legislators and executives without being held accountable.
Dhankhar, during his address, also pointed to what he termed as doctrinal inconsistencies in Supreme Court verdicts, citing the Golaknath case, where the Preamble was declared not to be a part of the Constitution, and the Kesavananda Bharati case, which held the opposite.
He warned that silence in the face of such inconsistencies could be dangerous and urged “thinking minds” to contribute to the preservation of India’s constitutional legacy, adding that every word spoken by constitutional authorities should be guided by the Constitution itself.
The Vice President further condemned violence and disruptions in the name of democracy, asserting that burning public property and disturbing public order cannot be tolerated, and must be addressed first through counselling and, if necessary, with strict measures.