VP Dhankhar Slams SC Ruling on Presidential Bill Deadlines
Outrage Over Judicial Overreach
NEW DELHI: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed strong disapproval on Thursday, labeling the Supreme Court’s recent directive as a threat to democracy. The court’s landmark ruling last week set a three-month deadline for the President to act on Bills reserved by Governors. Dhankhar argued that this infringes on the President’s authority, calling Article 142 “a nuclear missile against democratic forces.”
Constitutional Concerns Raised
Dhankhar criticized the judiciary’s role, suggesting it oversteps into legislative and executive domains without accountability. He highlighted the April 8 verdict by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, which struck down Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi’s decision to withhold 10 bills, deeming it illegal. The VP also proposed amending Article 145(3) to ensure constitutional interpretations involve a larger bench.
Call for Judicial Restraint
Questioning the basis of the ruling, Dhankhar emphasized that only a five-judge bench should handle such matters under Article 145(3). He warned against the judiciary’s unchecked use of Article 142, urging a balance to preserve democratic principles. The ruling cleared the stalled bills, reinforcing that Governors must follow the State Legislature’s advice.
