'Parliament Supreme': V-P Jagdeep Dhankhar Doubles Down Again On 'Judicial Overreach'

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has once again reacted to the allegation of judicial overreach against the Supreme Court reiterating that the the Parliament is "supreme". 

Speaking at Delhi University on Tuesday, Dhankhar said, "Elected representatives will be the ultimate masters of what the constitution will be and there won't be any authority above it. Parliament is supreme," he said amid the ongoing debate over judiciary versus executive.

He asserted that every word spoken by a constitutional functionary is guided by the supreme sublime interest of the nation. 

"I find it conceivably intriguing that some have recently reflected that constitutional offices can be ceremonial, ornamental. Nothing can be far distanced from a wrong understanding of the role of everyone in this country -- constitutional functionary or a citizen," he said during his address.

ALSO READ | 'National Herald Ki Loot': BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj's Bag Catches Eyeballs At Parliament

Supreme Court's Directive To President 

The top court had recently prescribed a three-month timeline for the president to decide on bills reserved by governors for her nod. 

Reacting to the directive for the President, Dhankhar had earlier said on Friday that the judiciary cannot play the role of a "super parliament" and get into the domain of the executive.

He further remarked that India had not bargained for a democracy where judges will legislate, perform Executive functions and act as a "super Parliament".

"There is a directive to the President by a recent judgement ... We never bargained for democracy for this day. President being called upon to decide in a time-bound manner, and if not, becomes law," Dhankhar said. 

For the first time, the Supreme Court earlier this month prescribed that the President should decide on the bills reserved for her consideration by the governor within three months from the date such reference is received.

india