Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 17: In a sharp critique of a recent Supreme Court ruling, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday voiced serious concern over what he described as judicial overreach, cautioning against a scenario where judges “legislate, perform executive functions, and act as a super Parliament.”
Addressing Rajya Sabha interns in the national capital, Dhankhar referred to the apex court’s directive that mandates the President to act on Bills sent by Governors within a three-month timeframe. The Vice President questioned the constitutional validity of such a directive, asserting that it undermines the dignity of the highest constitutional office.
“There is a directive to the President by a recent judgment. Where are we heading? What is happening in the country? We never bargained for such a democracy,” Dhankhar said, expressing concern over the potential implications of the judgment. He emphasized that the President of India occupies a highly respected constitutional position, whose powers cannot be subject to judicial deadlines.
He further remarked, “So we now have judges who legislate, perform executive functions, and act as a super Parliament, all without accountability because the law of the land doesn’t apply to them.”
Cautioning that his apprehensions were of the “highest level,” the Vice President said he never imagined witnessing a day when the President’s prerogatives would be subject to judicial timelines.
Dhankhar also stressed the constitutional roles of various public offices, stating that while ministers, parliamentarians, and judges take oath to abide by the Constitution, the President’s oath is to “preserve, protect, and defend” it.
Calling for introspection, he stated, “We cannot have a situation where you direct the President of India. The only constitutional right under Article 145(3) is to interpret the Constitution — and even that must be done by a bench of five or more judges.”
The Vice President’s remarks have stirred a fresh debate on the separation of powers, judicial activism, and the sanctity of constitutional roles in Indian democracy.