Question: Who has been replaced by Harivansh Narayan Singh to hold the office of Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha?
(a)J. Kurien
(b)Rahman Khan
(c)Ram Niwas Mirdha
(d)K.Hariprasad
Answer (a)
Related Facts:
- NDA candidate and Member of JD(U) Harivansh Narayan Singh was elected as Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha with 125 votes(B K Hariprasad 105).He replaced J. Kurien of Congress on this post which was vacant since 1 July after his retirement.
- Harivansh Narayan Singh is an accomplished writer, journalist and active parliamentarian .He was born on 30 June 1956 in Ballia district (UP) and holds Post Graduate degree in Economics as well as Diploma in Journalism. He has served as bank official, chief editor in Hindi daily Prabhat Khabar and other publications such as Dharmayug, Raviwar.
- He derived his inspiration from Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan and dropped his surname .He has also worked as media advisor of Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar.
- Mr Harivansh hold office for first time as Rajya Sabha member in April 2014 from Bihar constituency.He is the first Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha to be elected by division of votes since 1992.
- Harivansh posses 89% attendance in Rajya Sabha and raised his concerns over Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill ,The Motor Vehicles (Amendments) Act and the banking sector crisis in country and many more issues in the Upper House.
About deputy Chairman of Rajya sabha
- In the absence of the chairman of the Rajya Sabha i.e. Vice President, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha presides over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.
Election of Deputy Chairman and Panel of Vice Chairman
- The election of a Deputy Chairman shall be held on such date as the Chairman may fix and the Secretary-General shall send to every member notice of this date.
- At any time before noon on the day- preceding the date so fixed, any member may give notice in writing addressed to the Secretary-General of a motion that another member be chosen as the Deputy Chairman of the Council, and the notice shall be seconded by a third member and shall be accompanied by a statement by the member whose name is proposed in the notice that he is willing to serve as Deputy Chairman if elected:
- Provided that a member shall not propose or second more than one motion.
- A member in whose name a motion stands in the list of business may, when called, move the motion or not move the motion, in which case he shall confine himself to a mere statement to that effect.
- The motions which have been moved and duly seconded shall be put one by one in the order in which they have been moved and decided if necessary by division. If any motion is carried, the person presiding shall, without putting later motions, declare that the member proposed in the motion which has been carried, has been chosen as the Deputy Chairman of the Council.
- Panel of Vice Chairman
- The Chairman shall, from time to time, nominate from amongst the members of the Council a panel of not more than six Vice-Chairmen, any one of whom may preside over the Council in the absence of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman when so requested by the Chairman, or in his absence, by the Deputy Chairman.
- A Vice-Chairman nominated under sub-rule (1) shall hold office until a new panel of Vice-Chairmen is nominated.
References:
https://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/rs_rule/electionhdc.asp
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-is-harivansh-the-new-deputy-chairman-of-rajya-sabha/article24640977.ece
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/who-is-harivansh-narayan-singh-1309551-2018-08-09
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deputy_Chairman_of_the_Rajya_Sabha