Q. With reference to the ‘Vice President of India,’ consider the following statements:
1. As per the original Constitution, the Vice-President was elected by the two Houses of Parliament assembled at a joint meeting.
2. When the post of President falls vacant, the Vice President succeeds to the post for the remainder of the term of the President.
3. The election of a person as Vice-President cannot be challenged on the ground that the electoral college was incomplete.
How many of the above given statements are correct?
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The original Constitution provided that the Vice-President would be elected by the two Houses of Parliament assembled at a joint meeting. This cumbersome procedure was done away by the 11th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1961. Presently, he is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Though the office of the Indian Vice-President is modelled on the lines of the American Vice-President, there is a difference. The American VicePresident succeeds to the presidency when it falls vacant, and remains President for the unexpired term of his predecessor. The Indian Vice-President, on the other hand, Indian vicePresident merely serves as an acting President until the new President assumes charge.
Statement 3 is correct: The election of a person as VicePresident cannot be challenged on the ground that the electoral college was incomplete (i.e., existence of any vacancy among the members of electoral college).
