NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Opposition parties are considering submitting a notice to move an impeachment resolution to remove Vice President of India over his ‘conduct’ as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

No-Confidence Motion Against the Vice President of India

• About: It is a parliamentary motion which is moved in the Lok Sabha against the entire council of ministers, stating that they are no longer deemed fit to hold positions of responsibility due to their inadequacy in some respect or their failure to carry out their obligations.
• Provision: Article 67(b) of the Indian Constitution.
• Initiate: The motion can only be introduced in the Rajya Sabha, not the Lok Sabha.
• Notice Requirement: A minimum of 14 days’ advance notice must be given before moving the resolution.
• Voting in Rajya Sabha: Requires an effective majority, which is a majority of all members present and voting.
• Voting in Lok Sabha: Requires a simple majority, meaning more than 50% of members present and voting.
• Grounds for Removal: The Constitution does not specify any grounds or justifications for the removal of the Vice President.
• Temporary Vacancy: If the Vice President is removed, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha assumes the role of Chairman.
• Historical Context: No Vice President has ever been removed under this Article in Indian parliamentary history.
• Previous Incident: In 2020, however, 12 Opposition parties moved a no-confidence resolution against Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh after a showdown in the House. 

o But then Chairman Venkaiah Naidu rejected the notice, saying it needed a 14-day notice and that the resolution was not in the proper format.