๐๏ธ Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha & Nominated Members Explained
The election of a nominated member as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the third consecutive term has once again highlighted the constitutional position of nominated members in India's parliamentary system. The development has generated interest regarding the powers, privileges and constitutional status of nominated members of the Rajya Sabha.
The office of the Deputy Chairman is an important constitutional office that ensures the smooth functioning of the Upper House of Parliament whenever the Chairman is unable to perform his duties. At the same time, the nomination of distinguished personalities to the Rajya Sabha under Article 80 enriches parliamentary debates by bringing expertise from various fields.
๐ฐ Why is this Topic in News?
- For the first time, a nominated member has been elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for a third consecutive term.
- The development has renewed attention on the constitutional status, powers and functions of nominated members.
- It has also highlighted the constitutional provisions relating to the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
๐ Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
The Deputy Chairman is the presiding officer elected by the Rajya Sabha from amongst its own members. The office plays an essential role in ensuring continuity of parliamentary proceedings whenever the Chairman is unable to discharge his functions.
โ๏ธ Constitutional Basis
Article 89 of the Constitution of India provides that the Rajya Sabha shall elect one of its members to be the Deputy Chairman.
๐จโโ๏ธ Functions of the Deputy Chairman
The Deputy Chairman performs several important constitutional and parliamentary functions.
- Presides over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha in the absence of the Chairman.
- Discharges the duties of the Chairman when the office of the Vice-President (Chairman of the Rajya Sabha) is vacant.
- Performs the functions of the Chairman when the Vice-President acts as the President of India.
- Maintains order and decorum during parliamentary proceedings.
- Ensures smooth conduct of debates and legislative business.
๐ฅ Nominated Members of the Rajya Sabha
Unlike the elected members of the Rajya Sabha, certain distinguished individuals are nominated by the President of India in recognition of their exceptional contribution to public life and national development.
๐ Constitutional Basis
Article 80 empowers the President of India to nominate twelve members to the Rajya Sabha.
๐ Eligibility for Nomination
The nominated members are selected from persons having special knowledge or practical experience in the following fields:
- ๐ Literature
- ๐ฌ Science
- ๐จ Art
- ๐ค Social Service
The objective is to bring experienced professionals and eminent personalities into the legislative process, thereby enriching parliamentary deliberations with expert perspectives.
โ๏ธ Powers and Privileges of Nominated Members
Although nominated members are not directly elected by the people, they enjoy almost all the rights and privileges available to elected members of the Rajya Sabha.
- Can participate in parliamentary debates.
- Can become members of parliamentary committees.
- Can participate in legislative discussions.
- Enjoy freedom of speech inside Parliament.
- May be elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
However, the Constitution places certain limitations upon their voting rights in specific constitutional elections.
๐ซ Limitations on Voting Rights
Nominated members cannot vote in the election of the President of India because they are not members of the electoral college constituted for that purpose.
However, if a nominated member subsequently becomes an elected member of Parliament, they become entitled to vote in the Presidential election in accordance with the constitutional provisions.
โญ Importance of Nominated Members
The provision for nominated members reflects the vision of the Constitution makers that Parliament should benefit not only from political representatives but also from distinguished personalities possessing exceptional expertise.
- Brings expert knowledge into parliamentary debates.
- Improves the quality of legislative deliberations.
- Provides representation to eminent personalities from diverse fields.
- Strengthens informed policymaking.
- Promotes a balanced and inclusive legislative process.
๐ Key Takeaways for Exam
- ๐ Article 89: Provides for the election of the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha by the House from amongst its members.
- ๐ Article 80: Empowers the President to nominate 12 members to the Rajya Sabha.
- ๐ Eligibility: Nominated members are selected from persons having special knowledge or practical experience in Literature, Science, Art and Social Service.
- โ๏ธ Functions: The Deputy Chairman presides over the Rajya Sabha in the absence of the Chairman and performs the Chairman's duties whenever required.
- ๐ณ๏ธ Voting Rights: Nominated members enjoy almost all parliamentary privileges but cannot vote in the election of the President of India.
- ๐๏ธ Importance: Nominated members bring expert knowledge and practical experience into parliamentary deliberations.
- ๐ Current Affairs: For the first time, a nominated member has been elected as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for a third consecutive term.
๐ Conclusion
The office of the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is an important constitutional institution that ensures the uninterrupted functioning of India's Upper House of Parliament. Equally significant is the constitutional provision for nominated members, which enables distinguished personalities from various fields to contribute to legislative discussions and public policy.
The recent election of a nominated member as Deputy Chairman has once again highlighted the inclusive character of India's parliamentary democracy. Understanding the constitutional provisions relating to Article 80, Article 89, nominated members and the Deputy Chairman is important for students preparing for Judiciary, CLAT, CUET LLB, UPSC, State PSC and other competitive examinations.
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