‘Judges Acting as Super Parliament’: V-P Dhankhar Slams SC Deadline For Bill-Clearance By President

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar criticised the Supreme Court's directive to the President on bill decisions, saying India didn’t opt for judges to act as a “super Parliament.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar

Source : PTI

After the Supreme Court directed the President a timeline to decide on the bills, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, on Thursday, said India had not bargained for a democracy where judges will legislate, perform Executive functions and act as a "super Parliament".

Last week, for the first time, the Supreme Court mandated that the President must make a decision on bills referred to her by the governor within three months from the date the reference is received.

"There is a directive to the President by a recent judgement. Where are we heading? What is happening in the country? We have to be extremely sensitive. It is not a question of someone filing a review or not. We never bargained for democracy for this day. President being called upon to decide in a time-bound manner, and if not, becomes law," Dhankhar said while addressing a group of Rajya Sabha interns, as per PTI.

He reminded the audience that the President of India holds a highly esteemed position and takes an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. Addressing a group of Rajya Sabha interns, he said, "So we have judges who will legislate, who will perform executive functions, who will act as super Parliament, and absolutely have no accountability because law of the land does not apply to them".

As per PTI, Dhankhar expressed that his concerns were at the "very highest level," adding that he had never imagined in "my life" that he would witness such a situation. In contrast, others—including ministers, the vice president, parliamentarians, and judges—take an oath to abide by the Constitution.

"We cannot have a situation where you direct the President of India and on what basis? The only right you have under the Constitution is to interpret the Constitution under Article 145(3). There it has to be five judges or more ...," he said.