"Constitution Is Supreme": Kapil Sibal Debunks Dhankhar's Remark On Supreme Court

New Delhi: Whether parliament or the constitution is supreme has become the latest topic of discussion, with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday claiming that the parliament is supreme in India.

“There is no visualisation in the constitution of any authority above parliament. Parliament is supreme. It is as supreme as every individual in the country,” Dhankhar said, adding that this is why India is a democratic country.

Soon after the controversial remarks by the Rajya Sabha chairman surface, senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal reacted by stating, “Neither Parliament nor the Executive is supreme,” according to law.

“The provisions of the Constitution are interpreted by the Supreme Court. That’s how this country has understood the law so far !,” added Sibal, who is current president of the Supreme Court Bar Association.

Dhankar was targetting the Supreme Court for its recent direction to set timelines for the President and Governors to give assent to pending Bills. The Vice-President had earlier faced criticism for allegedly undermining the Supreme Court.

Notably, it is not the first time that Dhankar is at odd with the Supreme Court. In December 2022, after assuming charge as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar slammed the Supreme Court for striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).

While addressing the Rajya Sabha on his first day, Dhankar had called the apex court’s move as a severe compromise of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of “the mandate of the people”.