Question

Q. Which of the following statements is/are correct about “Prime Minister of India”?

Select the correct answer using the code given below

• A.
  1 only
• B.
  2 only
• C.
  Both 1 and 2
• D.
  Neither 1 nor 2

Answer 1

The correct option is A

1 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct.

In 1980, the Delhi High Court held that the Constitution does not require that a person must prove his majority in the Lok Sabha before he is appointed as the Prime Minister. The President may first appoint him the Prime Minister and then ask him to prove his majority in the Lok Sabha within a reasonable period.

In 1997, the Supreme Court held that a person who is not a member of either House of Parliament can be appointed as Prime Minister for six months, within which, he should become a member of either House of Parliament; otherwise, he ceases to be the Prime Minister.

For example, Charan Singh (1979), VP Singh (1989), Chandrasekhar (1990), PV Narasimha Rao (1991), AB Vajpayee (1996), Deve Gowda (1996), IK Gujral (1997) and again AB Vajpayee (1998) were appointed as Prime Ministers in this way.

Statement 2 is incorrect.

The Prime Minister recommends persons who can be appointed as ministers by the president. The President can appoint only those persons as ministers who are recommended by the Prime Minister. Further the Prime Minister allocates and reshuffles various portfolios among the ministers.