You often hear while expressing about The President of India, He’s the government’s rubber stamp only.
To which the Late former president Pranab Mukherjee says
“With great power comes great responsibility”
The President of India is that spare tyre in the boot of a car. It sits comfortably in a space designated for it, in the back, while the car rolls on towards its destination.
Any good driver knows that before embarking on a long journey, they should check if the spare tyre is filled & working. Because in -case either of the running tyres goes out, they will need to be replaced by the spare one.
The Presidential tyre guarantees a good journey because it is the supreme king of good times.
Article 52 of the constitution says: There shall be a president of India.
Decisions taken by the government need the assent of The President. Even the bills passed by the government need the assent of the head of the state republic of India.
And also he said The Government is Harry Potter & the President is Dumbledore. Potter runs around Hogwarts & the wizarding world, defeating Voldemort and his lackeys, while Dumbledore watches over him like an elder all-knowing entity.
Dumbledore only comes in when required, otherwise, he lets Harry get into situations where he almost gets killed.
I mean, Dumbledore can just swoop in and kill Voldemort at the beginning of every book — him being the most powerful all-knowing wizard of all time who wields the most powerful wand of all time and has a one-of-a-kind magical immortal Pheonix as a friggin’ pet — but he doesn’t. Coz where’s the fun in that, eh?
Harry Potter is the chosen one! The books are about Harry Potter, not the President of India… I mean… Dumbledore.
Article 74: Binding powers of the Council of Ministers
Article 74 of The constitution is the only reason the president is criticised as a rubber stamp.
Why the president is not a rubber stamp?
1. Every executive action that the Indian government takes, is to be taken in his name
2. He may/may not make rules to simplify the transaction of business of the central government
3. He appoints the attorney general of India and determines his remuneration
4. He appoints the following people: Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners Chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission State Governors Finance Commission of India chairman and members
5. He seeks administrative information from the Union government 6. He requires PM to submit, for consideration of the council of ministers, any matter on which a decision has been taken by a minister but, which has not been considered by the council
7. He appoints National Commissions of Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes Other Backward Classes 8. He appoints inter-state council
9. He appoints administrators of union territories
10. He can declare any area as a scheduled area and has powers with respect to the administration of scheduled areas and tribal areas Legislative Powers of President
1. He summons or prorogues Parliament and dissolves the Lok Sabha
2. He summons a joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in case of deadlock
3. He addresses the Indian Parliament at the commencement of the first session after every general election
4. He appoints a speaker, deputy speaker of Lok Sabha and chairman/deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha when the seats fall vacant He nominates 12 members of the Rajya
5. He can nominate two members to the Lok Sabha from the Anglo-Indian Community 6. He consults the Election Commission of India on questions of disqualifications of MPs.
7. He recommends/ permits the introduction of certain types of bills He promulgates ordinances
8. He lays the following reports before the Parliament: Comptroller and Auditor General Union Public Service Commission Finance Commission, etc.
President elections are upon us on July 18th, the new president will be sworn in on July 25th
