Vice President: Qualification, Election, Removal, Emoluments

Vice President

• Appointed for 5 years.
• Ex- officio chairman of council of states (Rajya Sabha)
• 2^nd highest dignitary of India, occupying 2^nd place in warrant of precedence
• Presides over the proceedings of Rajya Sabha.

Whenever vacancy occurs in the office of President or President is unable to discharge his duties, Vice President acts as president of India & ceases to perform duties as chairman of Rajya Sabha (During this period, he is entitled to all emoluments & incentives of President)

Qualification for Vice President

• Must be citizen of India
• Must be 35 years of age
• Must not held any office of profit
• Qualified to be elected as a member of Rajya Sabha

Can not be a member of either house of the parliament or state legislature & if a member of parliament or state legislature is elected as Vice President, he ceases to be member of parliament of state legislature from the date he enters upon his office of VP

• Nomination of a candidate for election to the office of VP must be subscribed by atleast 20 electors as proposers & 20 electors as seconders.
• Every candidate has to make security deposit of Rs. 15000 to RBI, stands forfeited if failed to get 1/6^th of the votes polled

VP holds office for 5 years, but if his successor is unable to enter the office, he continues to hold his office beyond the stated period of 5 years until his successor enters upon his office (But election is to be held no later than 60 days of expiry of the term of office of outgoing VP)

Election of Vice President

• Elected indirectly by Electoral College, consisting of all members of parliament (Both elected & nominated) → (State government do not participate in VPs election)
• Election is held in accordance with system of proportional representation by means of single transferrable vote & voting via secret ballot.
• Supreme Court has final & exclusive jurisdiction for resolving disputes & doubts relating to election of Vice President

Oath – Vice President

VP takes oath in presence of President, “to bear true faith & allegiance to constitution of India & to faithfully discharge duties of his office”.

Removal of Vice President

• VP can be removed from his office by a resolution raised only in Rajya sabha, passed by effective majority e. Greater than 50% of (Total membership – Vacancy) & agreed upon by simple majority i.e. greater than 50 % of total voting members, of the Lok sabha.
• Prior to passing the resolution in Rajya sabha, a 14 days’ notice should be served to him
• A formal impeachment is not required for his removal as in case of President

Emoluments

• Rent free accommodation from Government
• Annual salary of Rs. 1,25,000 & pension of Rs. 7.5 Lakhs / Annum
• When acts as President, he gets all the allowances, powers, immunities & salary of President