NOMINATIONS
TO RAJYA SABHA - POLITY
News:
Sudha Murty nominated to
Rajya Sabha
What's
in the news?
●
Philanthropist and former chairperson of
Infosys Foundation Sudha Murty was
nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
Key
takeaways:
●
The 73year old is an engineer by training
and an author. She was also awarded the Padma
Shri in 2006 and the Padma Bhushan
in 2023.
●
In January, the President nominated Satnam Singh Sandhu as a member of the
Rajya Sabha. Sandhu is one of India’s leading educationists. He founded the
Chandigarh Group of Colleges (CGC) at Landran in Mohali in 2001 and
subsequently the Chandigarh University in 2012 which found a place in QS World
Rankings 2023, first among private universities in Asia.
●
The
President can nominate 12 members to the Upper House.
Nominated
Members in Rajya Sabha:
●
The President of India nominates these 12
members from individuals who have special knowledge or practical experience in art, literature, science, and social
service.
●
This principle of nomination is adopted to
provide distinguished persons a place in the Rajya Sabha without going through
the process of election.
Constitutional
Backing:
Article
80
of the Constitution (“Composition of the Council of States”) says “The Council
of States shall consist of
●
Twelve members to be nominated by the
President in accordance with the provisions of clause (3).
●
Not more than two hundred and thirty-eight
representatives of the States and of the Union territories.
Clause (3) of the Article
80 layers down the qualifications for the appointment.
Role
of Nominated Members:
Powers
and privileges:
●
Nominated members of Rajya Sabha enjoy all the powers and privileges to
which the elected MPs are entitled.
●
They can take part in the proceedings of
the House in a normal manner.
Other
Key takeaways:
●
A nominated member is allowed six months,
should he decide to join a political party after he has taken his seat in the
House in terms of Article 99 of the
Constitution.
●
A nominated member has also been exempted from filing his assets and
liabilities under Section 75A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951
which requires the elected member to do so within 90 days of his making or
subscribing oath/affirmation.
Election
of President and Vice-President:
●
Nominated members are not allowed to vote in the election of the President.
●
However, they do have the right to vote in the election of the
Vice-President.
Significance
of Nomination:
●
The rationale behind this principle of
nomination is to provide eminent persons a place in the Rajya Sabha without
going through the process of election.
●
It gives an opportunity to those who might
be willing to participate in the debate with an amount of learning and
importance which we do not ordinarily associate with the House of the People
(Lok Sabha).