What Happened
- Jagdeep Dhankhar, who served as the 14th Vice President of India, addressed reports circulating about his health, stating "I never said I was unwell — I was prioritising my health."
- Dhankhar had resigned as Vice President in July 2025, citing health reasons and the need to "prioritise health care and abide by medical advice," in a letter to President Droupadi Murmu.
- He had undergone angioplasty at AIIMS Delhi in March 2025, and was subsequently admitted to AIIMS in January 2026 following reported health incidents.
- His tenure as Vice President (2022–2025) was marked by frequent invocations of parliamentary privilege, procedural interventions in Rajya Sabha proceedings, and debates over the constitutional scope of the Chairman's role.
- The episode renews attention to the constitutional provisions governing the office of Vice President, its critical function as ex officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha, and the procedures for filling a Vice Presidential vacancy.
Static Topic Bridges
Constitutional Provisions: The Office of Vice President (Articles 63–73)
Part V of the Indian Constitution (The Union) establishes the office of Vice President under Articles 63 through 73. The Vice President holds the second-highest constitutional office in the country.
- Article 63: There shall be a Vice-President of India.
- Article 64: The Vice-President shall be ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and shall not hold any other office of profit.
- Article 65: The Vice-President shall act as President during casual vacancies in the President's office (death, resignation, removal, or incapacity) — in such cases, the VP ceases to function as Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
- Article 66: Election of Vice-President by members of an electoral college consisting of both Houses of Parliament (not the state legislatures — distinguishing it from the Presidential election), by proportional representation and single transferable vote (secret ballot).
- Article 67: Term of office — 5 years. A Vice-President may resign by writing to the President; removal requires a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by a majority and agreed to by the Lok Sabha.
- Article 71: Disputes relating to the election of President or Vice-President are decided by the Supreme Court.
Connection to this news: Dhankhar's mid-term resignation in July 2025 invoked Article 67(b) (resignation to the President). His statement clarifying his health status is relevant to public understanding of the constitutional procedures that govern how Vice Presidential vacancies are filled and the chain of continuity in constitutional offices.
Vice President as Chairman of Rajya Sabha: Powers and Significance
As the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Vice President presides over the upper house of Parliament. The Chairmanship is integral to the functioning of parliamentary democracy, as the Rajya Sabha has co-equal legislative powers in most domains and special powers in others.
- The Chairman of Rajya Sabha does not participate in debates and votes only in cases of a tie (casting vote).
- The Chairman maintains order, decides points of order, allots speaking time, and has the power to expunge objectionable portions from Rajya Sabha debates.
- Unlike the Lok Sabha Speaker (elected only from Lok Sabha members), the Rajya Sabha Chairman is not a member of the House.
- Money Bills cannot originate in or be amended by Rajya Sabha (Article 110, 109) — giving Rajya Sabha's Chairman an important but circumscribed role in financial legislation.
- Constitutional Amendment Bills under Article 368 must be passed by both Houses; the Chairman's role in managing such proceedings is significant.
- In 2022–2025, the Chairman-Government and Chairman-Opposition dynamics became central to debates about whether the Chairman was functioning as a neutral presiding officer or as a partisan actor — debates directly relevant to the institutional integrity of the upper house.
Connection to this news: Dhankhar's tenure as Chairman was marked by controversy over procedural interventions. His resignation and the subsequent discussion about his health underline the importance of the Vice Presidential office's continuity to the smooth functioning of Rajya Sabha.
Procedure for Vice Presidential Election and Vacancy Filling
When a Vice Presidential vacancy occurs (by resignation, death, removal, or completion of term), Article 68 mandates that an election be held as soon as possible. There is no provision for an "Acting Vice President" per se — the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha discharges the functions of Chairman when the office is vacant.
- Article 68: Vacancy in the office of Vice-President — election to fill the vacancy shall be held as soon as possible after the vacancy occurs, and no later than the end of the unexpired term in the case of expiry (not applicable to resignation/death mid-term).
- Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha (elected under Article 90) presides over Rajya Sabha when the Chairman is absent or the office is vacant.
- The Vice Presidential election is conducted by the Election Commission of India.
- Electoral college: All elected and nominated members of both Houses of Parliament.
- Single Transferable Vote (STV) with proportional representation — same system as Presidential election but without state legislative assembly members.
- After Dhankhar's July 2025 resignation, an election was held to choose the 15th Vice President of India.
Connection to this news: The article's context — Dhankhar clarifying health reports — reminds students of the constitutional mechanics that activate when the second-highest office becomes vacant: the Deputy Chairman presides over Rajya Sabha, and an election must be convened expeditiously.
Historical Context: Vice Presidents of India and Constitutional Controversies
The Vice Presidency has evolved in political significance from a largely ceremonial office to one increasingly active in parliamentary management. Several Vice Presidents have been associated with landmark constitutional moments.
- Dr. S. Radhakrishnan: 1st Vice President (1952–1962), later 2nd President — philosopher, his birthday (September 5) is celebrated as Teachers' Day.
- V.V. Giri: 4th Vice President; resigned mid-term in 1969 to contest the Presidential election — first Vice President to do so.
- Hamid Ansari: 12th Vice President (2007–2017), served two terms; known for extensive use of parliamentary rules to protect minority views in Rajya Sabha.
- Venkaiah Naidu: 13th Vice President (2017–2022); initiated the practice of grading the "productive time" of each Rajya Sabha session.
- Jagdeep Dhankhar: 14th Vice President (2022–July 2025); first from Rajasthan; resigned mid-term on health grounds.
Connection to this news: Dhankhar's mid-term resignation (the second such resignation after V.V. Giri's in 1969) is itself constitutionally notable and places him in a unique category of Vice Presidents who triggered vacancy-filling procedures ahead of schedule.
Key Facts & Data
- Jagdeep Dhankhar: 14th Vice President of India (August 11, 2022 – July 2025).
- Resigned July 2025 citing health reasons; letter submitted to President Droupadi Murmu.
- AIIMS admission: March 2025 (angioplasty); January 2026 (re-admitted, stable condition).
- Article 64: VP is ex officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
- Article 65: VP acts as President during casual vacancy.
- Article 67(b): VP may resign by writing to the President.
- Article 68: Election to fill VP vacancy to be held as soon as possible.
- Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha: Presides in Chairman's absence or vacancy.
- Previous mid-term VP resignation: V.V. Giri (1969), to contest Presidential election.
- Rajya Sabha total seats: 245 (233 elected + 12 nominated by President under Article 80).