Mention any two powers functions of the vice president as chairmen of the Rajya Sabha
Answers
Explanation:
Members of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha enjoy special powers and responsibilities with regard to:
Making laws on any subject in the State List;
Making laws to create services at national level.
As the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Vice-President presides over the meetings of the House. As the Presiding Officer, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is the unchallenged guardian of the prestige and dignity of the House. He is also the principal spokesman of the House and represents the collective voice to the outside world. He ensures that the proceedings of the House are conducted in accordance with the relevant constitutional provisions, rules, practices and conventions and that decorum is maintained in the House. He is the custodian and guardian of the rights and privileges of the House and its members. Due to several pressing and urgent engagements and preoccupations as Vice-President he may not be able to devote full time as Presiding Officer of the Rajya Sabha, but in practice he presides during the first hour of the sitting of the House which is the Question Hour. This lively and occasionally tumultuous period is one of the high points of the day during each Session where the accountability of Government is most obviously on display. He deftly handles the situation, ensures that Members' rights of asking questions and receiving complete replies is well enforced and gives rulings on privilege matters and other procedural points. Whenever important debates or landmark discussions such as on Constitution Amendment Bills take place, he is invariably in the Chair. He has no vote except when there is a tie (article 100). The Chairman's rulings constitute precedents which are of a binding nature. The Chairman is not bound to give reasons for his decisions. The Chairman's rulings cannot be questioned or criticised and to protest against the ruling of the Chairman is a contempt of the House.
In his task as Chairman, he is assisted by the Deputy Chairman who is a member of the House and elected by it. The Deputy Chairman presides over the Rajya Sabha in the absence of the Chairman and performs the duties of the office of the Chairman if the Vice-President is acting as President or if there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice-President. There is also a panel of six Vice-Chairmen, which is constituted every year. A Vice-Chairman presides over the meeting of the Rajya Sabha in the absence of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman. There is a Secretariat of the Rajya Sabha headed by a Secretary-General to assist the Chairman in the discharge of his functions.
As the Presiding Officer, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is the unchallenged guardian of the prestige and dignity of the House. His impartial and fair judgment enhances the reputation and prestige of his office.
On 20 April 1987, before a short duration discussion regarding Government's decision to institute an inquiry into the involvement of commission agents in certain defence deals started, the Chairman announced: "From 15 January 1982, through the middle of June 1984, 1 was the Defence Minister. Therefore, I do not think it proper for me to preside over the debate." He, therefore, vacated the Chair and the proceedings were conducted by the Deputy Chairman. 31