![azadi ka amrit mahotsav](https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/photo/2021/aug/ph202183101.png)
The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today emphasised that ‘Parliament is the soul of democracy’ & the Constitution is in the exclusive domain of the Parliament. He said that the message of the Constituent Assembly was loud and clear that “the Parliament alone is the architect of the Constitution.” Calling for respecting institutional boundaries, VP highlighted that “Parliament can’t script a judgement on the supreme court & similarly Supreme Court can’t script law for us; that’s our domain.”
Hon’ble Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar addressed the Constitution Day celebrations organised by the Ministry of Law and Justice at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi today. #ConstitutionDay pic.twitter.com/GXVCqfYcyn
— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) November 26, 2023
Addressing the Constitution Day celebrations organised by the Ministry of Law & Justice in New Delhi today, the Vice-President stated that sovereignty of the Parliament is synonymous with sovereignty of the nation and the same is impregnable.
Congratulations on Constitution Day!
This is a befitting occasion to remember with a sense of gratitude and reverence our founding fathers who sagaciously gave us a unique Constitution that is spine to our democracy.
Let us in togetherness reaffirm this day our allegiance to… pic.twitter.com/Pa1JYNYIby
— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) November 26, 2023
Describing any incursion in the exclusive domain of Parliament as Constitutional aberration, and antithetical to democratic values, VP observed that democracy is optimally nurtured when all state organs the Executives, the Judiciary and the Legislature work in harmony, tandem and togetherness.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a great son of this soil, is someone we deeply admire—the architect of India’s Constitution. It was a proud moment for me as a Member of Parliament and Union Minister when the Bharat Ratna was conferred upon him during our regime. It brought great satisfaction.… pic.twitter.com/xeBxMuqkI0
— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) November 26, 2023
Calling for a collaborative discourse rather than confrontational perception among the Executive, Judiciary & Legislature, Shri Dhankhar said that differences between these institutions must be resolved through sublime statesmanship, not by public posturing or generating perception as a strategy.
Calling for a structured mechanism for interaction between the people helming these institutions, VP said that “any aberration coming in public domain by observation or otherwise will not be soothing to our ears which means soothing to the people at large.”
VP further remarked that “constitutional provisions providing for interpretation of law and constitution is a small slit and it can’t become floodgate. We have to be extremely worry about it.”
#Article370 was the only article of the Indian Constitution not drafted by the drafting committee; all other articles were drafted, and Dr. Ambedkar declined to draft it.
Look at how this article of the #Constitution made the lives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir hellish.
We… pic.twitter.com/xk4346w7Cj
— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) November 26, 2023
Describing himself as a foot soldier of judiciary, Shri Dhankhar said that “judicial independence, like to millions of people in the country, is very dear to me. We want spinally strong Judiciary and I can say without the fear of contradiction that our Judiciary is one of the best in the world.” He also appreciated the initiatives by the E-Committee of the Supreme Court that leveraged technology making the system more people-centric, prioritizing transparency, efficiency, and enhanced access to justice for all.
Referring to the proclamation of emergency as the ‘darkest period’ in the history of post-independence India, the Vice-President described it as “outrageous trampling of constitutional essence and spirit” and ‘sacrilege of the constitution.”
1975 में तत्कालीन प्रधानमंत्री द्वारा आपातकाल लागू करना संविधान का बहुत बड़ा अपमान था।
संविधान की आत्मा पर कुठाराघात था! #ConstitutionDay pic.twitter.com/vAa1ivUcxa
— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) November 26, 2023
In his address, the Vice-President described the constitution as ‘spine to our democracy’. He emphasized that ‘Constitution Day’ serves as a moment to remember founding fathers with a sense of gratitude and reverence and called for ‘reaffirming our allegiance to the constitutional core values’.
Underscoring the importance of women empowerment for inclusive and sustainable development, the Vice-President commended the recent passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill that will provide one-third reservation to women in Parliament and State Legislatures.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar captured the essence of this (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) when he reflected: “I measure the progress of a community with the degree of progress women have achieved.” #ConstitutionDay pic.twitter.com/Mq6sWbJP8C
— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) November 26, 2023
In closing, the Vice President also urged Parliamentarians to weaponise debate, dialogue, discussion, and deliberation, not disruptions or disturbances, in the temples of democracy.
Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Justice, Justice Arun Kumar Mishra, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of India, Justice Indira Banerjee, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India, Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Chairperson, Law Commission of India, Shri Tushar Mehta, R. Venkataramani Attorney-General for India, and other dignitaries attended the event.
Following are the excerpts from the Vice-President’s address – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1980019
*****
MS/JK