FEATURES OF THE CONSTITUTION: SIGNIFICANCE, STRUCTURE, AND EVOLUTION

• • The 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) is also known as ‘Mini Constitution’.
• KESAVANANDA BHARATI CASE (1973): SC ruled, constituent power of parliament doesn’t allow it to change the ‘basic structure’ of the features of the constitution.

KEY FEATURES OF THE CONSTITUTION: BLEND OF LEGAL TRADITIONS & GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES

• Lengthiest Written Constitution- The Indian features of the constitution is the lengthiest of all written constitution. Presently, it consists of a Preamble, about 470 articles and 12 schedules.
• Dominance of legal luminaries in the Constituent Assembly.
• Single features of the constitution for both the Centre and the states.
• Drawn from various sources:

• Rigidity and Flexibility- The Indian features of the constitution is neither rigid nor flexible, but a blend of both.
• Federal system with unitary bias:

• Parliamentary form of Government – The Indian features of the constitution has preferred the British Parliamentary System of government to the American Presidential System of government. Features of Parliamentary form of government are: Presence of nominal and real executives + Rule of majority party + Leadership of the Prime Minister or the chief minister + Membership of the ministers in the legislature + Dissolution of the lower house (Lok Sabha).
• Synthesis of Parliamentary Sovereignty and Judicial Supremacy – The sovereignty of parliament is associated with the British Parliament while Judicial supremacy is associated with the American system. The framers of the Indian features of the constitution have preferred a proper synthesis between the British principle of parliamentary sovereignty and the American principle of judicial supremacy.
• Integrated and Independent Judiciary –The Supreme Court stands at the top of the integrated judicial system in the country followed by High courts in states and subordinate courts and other lower courts. The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal, the guarantor of the fundamental rights of the citizens and the guardian of the constitution.
• Fundamental Rights- Part III of the constitution guarantees 6 FRs to all the citizens – (1) Right to equality(Article 14-18) + (2) Right to freedom(Article 19-22) + (3) Right against exploitation(Article 23-24) + (4) Right to Freedom of Religion(Article 25-28) + (5) Cultural and Educational Rights (Article 29-30) + (6) Right to Constitutional Remedies(Article 32). If a fundamental right of any Indian citizen is violated, then the aggrieved person can directly go to the Supreme Court which can issue the writs of Habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, and quo warranto for the restoration of his rights.
• Directive Principles of State Policy – Mentioned in Part IV of the features of the constitution. The DPSPs are meant to promote the ideals of social and economic democracy. However, unlike the FRs, the directives are non- justiciable in nature, i.e. they are non-enforceable by the courts for their violation.

NOTE- MINERVA MILLS CASE(1980): SC held that ‘the Indian features of the constitution is founded on the bedrock of the balance between the Fundamental Rights and the DPSPs – Basic Structure 

• Fundamental Duties – Added to the Constitution only after the recommendations of Swaran Singh Committee. The 86th CAA, 2002 added one more fundamental duty. The duties are also non-justiciable in nature.
• A Secular State – The term ‘secular’ was added to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution by the 42nd CAA, 1976. The Indian Constitution embodies the positive concept of Secularism, i.e. giving equal respect to all religions or protecting all religions equally.
• Universal Adult Franchise – The voting age was reduced to 18 years from 21 years in 1989 by 61st CAA,
• Single Citizenship – Enjoy the same political and civil rights of citizenship all over the country.
• Independent Bodies – Certain Independent Bodies are envisaged by the features of the constitution as the bulwarks of the democratic system of Government of India. These are: Election Commission + Comptroller and Auditor-General + Union Public Service Commission + State Public Service Commission.
• Emergency Provisions – National Emergency (Art. 352), State Emergency or President’s Rule (Art. 356 and Art. 365) and Financial Emergency (Art. 360). During an emergency, the federal structure converts into unitary one without a formal amendment of the Constitution and the Central government becomes all-powerful.
• Three-tier Government- The 73rd and 74th CAA, 1992 have added a third-tier of government (local) which is not found in any other constitutions of the world. The 73rd CAA of 1992 gave constitutional recognition to Panchayats by adding a new part IX and a new schedule 11 to the features of the constitution. The 74th CAA of 1992 gave constitutional recognition to Municipalities by adding a new part IX-A and a new schedule 12 to the constitution.
• Cooperative Societies- The 97th CAA, 2011 gave constitutional status and protection to co-operative societies. It made the right to form co-operative societies a FR (Art. 19) + added a new DPSP on promotion of co-operative societies (Art. 43-B) + added a new part IX-B in the constitution entitled as “The Co-operative Societies” (Art. 243-ZH to 243-ZT).

CONSTITUTIONAL ESSENTIALS: KEY SCHEDULES & PROVISIONS 

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