NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh has dismissed the impeachment notice submitted by the opposition seeking the removal of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday, according to a report from news agency PTI, citing sources. He ruled that it was an attempt of the opposition of impropriety, being severely flawed and drawn in haste to damage the reputation of Dhankhar.
The ruling, presented to the House by Secretary General P C Mody, said that the notice was designed to undermine constitutional institutions and malign the incumbent the Vice President.
The impeachment notice was signed by 60 opposition members seeking the removal of Dhankhar from his post on December 10. They alleged him of being “biased.”
The deputy chairman further said that the “personally targeted” notice lacked a factual basis and appeared to be aimed at securing publicity.
He ruled that the notice was a “misadventure” in “deliberate trivialising and demeaning” of the high constitutional office of the Vice President of the largest democracy.
According to sources, the deputy chairman’s ruling emphasised that the notice contained unfounded claims intended to defame the incumbent Vice President, compromising Parliament’s dignity.
The responsibility of addressing this notice fell to the deputy chairman after Chairman Dhankhar stepped aside from the matter.