Constitutional provisions related to the office of Vice-President

• With the Vice Presidential elections in India, due on 6th August, the electoral procedure and the role of VP is the talk of the town.

Constitutional Provisions related to Office of VP

• Article 63: office of Vice President
• Article 64: VP as the ex-officio chairman of Rajya Sabha
• Article 65: Functions of the VP
• Act as President in case of vacancy in the Office of President till the New President comes in
• Act as President in case of the President is unable to discharge his duties

Election of the Vice-President

• Article 66: Electoral procedure for election of VP
• Elected by the members of an electoral college
  • Members of both Houses of Parliament
• System of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote by secret ballot
• In case of Dispute
• Article 71: shall be inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court whose decision shall be final.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Article 66(3):
• Citizen of India;
• Minimum age: 35 years;
• Qualified for election as a member of Rajya Sabha
• Article 66(4): Should not hold any office of profit

Conditions for the Office:

• Article 67: 5 years of term
• VP “shall not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State”.
• If a member of any of these Houses should vacate his seat
• May leave office before the end of his term by resigning to the President
• Removal: by a resolution of Rajya Sabha passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council and agreed to by the House of the People”.