'Parliament Alone Is In Charge Of Legislation,' Says Vice-President Dhankhar In A Week When SC Is Making Headlines For Its Comments

The Vice President of India and the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday (20 April ) said that Parliament alone is "incharge of legislation" and competent to enforce it.

Speaking at the celebrations of Civil Services Day on 20 April, he said, “These constitutional entities can ill afford to weaponise authority by effecting incursions in the domain of the other. Legislature, Judiciary, and Executive serve best while functioning in their respective domain.”

“Have my assurance — Parliament alone is ‘incharge of legislation’ and competent to enforce it. Legislation is the executive preserve of Parliament, the most authentic reflector of the will of the people at large,” he added further.

His comments have come at a time when the legislature and the judiciary have come to loggerheads in recent years.

The Constitution of India provides for ‘judicial review’ of the acts of Parliament in case they encroach upon the fundamental rights of citizens.

However, by inventing the ‘Doctrine of Basic Structure’, the judiciary enlarged the scope of its jurisdiction.

He also emphasised that under India’s constitutional scheme, neither the legislature nor the Judiciary can emerge as a powerful political actor. Therefore, the three wings of government need to ‘act in tandem’ to ensure a smooth journey for India in the future.

He concluded with Dr B R Ambedkar’s words in his last speech to the Constituent Assembly. He said, “What perturbs me greatly is the fact that not only India has once before lost her independence, but she lost it by the infidelity and treachery of some of her own people.”