Topic started by Sathish on Wed Feb 2 16:46:16 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Hi all

The Indian Govt has appointed a committee to review the constitution. I would like to know your views on this.

Regards
Sathish

Responses:

• From: Sathish (@ mesquite.eas.asu.edu) on: Wed Feb 2 16:52:28 EST 2000
  
  I am not very clear about one basic thing: what is the difference between amending some sections and reviewing? Is it just in the number of changes?
  Also what is reviewing without changing the basic structure? Then what is amending?
  
  With the little understanding I have on this, I think that it is ok to review the constitution as long as it is done objectively. Now what are your views?
  
  
• From: bb (@ desert-63.slip.uiuc.edu) on: Fri Feb 4 09:43:08 EST 2000
  
  sathish, can u give a related news link?
  
  
• From: Sathish (@ mesquite.eas.asu.edu) on: Fri Feb 4 14:07:27 EST 2000
  
  Please visit http://www.the-hindu.com/2000/02/02/stories/01020001.htm
  
  
• From: Mani M. Manivannan (@ sji-ca5-244.ix.netcom.com) on: Mon Feb 14 17:51:35 EST 2000
  
  C. Subramaniyam on the Review of Constitution
  
  http://www.rediff.com/republic/2000/feb/14cs.htm
  
  
• From: gdravid (@ 204.32.146.198) on: Wed Feb 16 00:09:50 EST 2000
  
  Sankaracharya of Dwarka and Jyotispith, Swami Swarupananda Saraswati today welcomed the Centre's move to review the Constitution, but said it was "not possible at present as there was little consensus among the policy makers" on the issue.
  
  http://www.the-hindu.com/holnus/02152211.htm
  
  
  Extra Tidpit: In the recent past Sankaracharya of Dwarka and Jyotispith, Swami Swarupananda Saraswati proclaimed that Untouchabilty is the BIRTH RIGHT of every Hindus's.
  
  
• From: bb (@ desert-79.slip.uiuc.edu) on: Wed Feb 16 01:42:16 EST 2000
  
  untouchability is the birth right of every hindu, including untouchables?:-))))
  
  
• From: Sugrutha (@ 1cust229.tnt2.rahway.nj.da.uu.net) on: Wed Feb 16 08:39:15 EST 2000
  
  bb / Dravid :-))),
  
  Yes. Looks like they are saying untouchables have the right to remain untouchables !! When I was young, I used to call all the people who were frantic about 'madi' and 'AchAram' ('mEla padAthey' etc.), untouchables by choice !! Pardon me the digression.
  
  
• From: Mani M. Manivannan (@ pc-242-61.corp.3com.com) on: Wed Feb 16 14:18:06 EST 2000
  
  Dravid, can you cite a web resource where the full quote of Sankaracharya of Dwarka and Jyotispith, Swami Swarupananda Saraswati on "Untouchabilty is the BIRTH RIGHT of every Hindu" message is found?
  
  I am curious about their reasoning.
  
  
• From: Mani M. Manivannan (@ pc-242-61.corp.3com.com) on: Wed Feb 16 16:46:29 EST 2000
  
  Prof. Indiresan comments on the constitutional review in The Hindu.
  
  http://www.the-hindu.com/stories/05172524.htm
  
  I am not sure about the veracity of Prof. Indiresan's first argument. My understanding is that it is not enough to have a two thirds majority in the lower house of the parliament to amend or completely change the character of the constitution. Shouldn't it be approved by the Upper house and then ratified by two thirds of the state assemblies? I thought this feature was modelled after that of the United States constitutional amendment process. If that is so, change desired by two thirds of the lower house of the parliament, a majority of the upper house and two thirds of the state assemblies is as close to the desire of the people as possible in the current system. Short of having a nationwide referendum on the constitutional amendment and requiring two-thirds majority in that, the current process is indeed quite good.
  
  I am impressed that Prof. Indiresan is deadset against the birthbased discrimination: "The fundamental flaw of the Indian Constitution lies in the fact that it identifies good and bad qualities not with behaviour but with birth. It identifies strengths and weaknesses not with individual capabilities but with birth. It breeds disaffection and hatred based on birth. Because no one can choose their parents, it perpetuates discrimination for and against some groups forever." Amazing. Isn't that what people have been saying about the original birth based discrimination that was being fostered by varNasrama and supported by the Hindu orthodoxy. But for that, would there be any need in the Indian constitution to have this remedy?
  
  
• From: gdravid (@ 204.32.146.28) on: Wed Feb 16 17:46:46 EST 2000
  
  Manivannan,
  
  I don’t have any internet site which is holding that controversial interview that sankaracharya gave. In that same interview he went at length about the necessity for the mosques at Madhura and Kasi to be demolished as the pre condition for the "future" harmony between Muslims and Hindus. That Interview even came in the popular tamil magazines.
  
  
  In that Interview of Prof Indiresan, he mentioned that *********************************************
  
  The fundamental flaw of the Indian Constitution lies in the fact that it identifies good and bad qualities not with behavior but with birth.
  
  ***********************************************
  
  I just want to know what part of the constitution has this "particular fundamental" flaw.
  
  Since knowing his "total aversion" to the reservation issue, I would like to know, is he dragging the constitutional security provided for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes to have the reservation based on birth and is he trying to propaganda against the reservation in the name of reverse discrimination.
  
  Even though I am not a constitutional expert, I am pretty much sure that our constitution DOES NOT have any kind of separate treatment to the birth based except in case of remedial social equality or in case of civil code where minority religions have a separate civil code.
  
  I think he is also proving how the so called indian intelligentsia normally behaves viz. a viz. "ANY" issues. These kind of bankrupted, corrupted, dishonest intelligensia SHOULD BE THROWN OUT and having them in midst and discussing about them is the fundamental flaw of Indian population.
  
  gdravid.
  
  
• From: Sugrutha (@ 1cust154.tnt1.rahway.nj.da.uu.net) on: Wed Feb 16 18:04:48 EST 2000
  
  First of all, nobody knows what the terms of reference of the 'review' really is. What really is the agenda ? (rather hidden agenda) CS speculates some, even I do (perhaps federalism ?).
  
  Well, if it all turns out to be about personal laws, then I am unimpreassed. I dont care that the state-funded Wakf board is financing Haj pilgrims and some divorced women. It is hardly a dent in the kind of wealth we generate, that goes into the hands of a few in swiss banks. I dont care if some Hindus are converting to Islam to acquire a second or third spouse.
  
  But I am afraid that that's all it is going to be - some populist changes to garner a few more votes.
  
  
• From: gdravid (@ mail.smart20.com) on: Thu Feb 17 17:52:34 EST 2000
  
  I agree with Kuldip Nayyar when he says,
  
  "At least one thing the Commission can do at its inaugural meeting. It must make a clear, categorical statement on what the review committee will not touch - for example, Articles on reservations and the safeguards to minorities. This is the Laxman Rekha the Commission cannot violate."
  
  More at
  
  http://www.the-hindu.com/stories/05181348.htm
  
  
• From: GV (@ d219-fx101h1-lond-pdi.attcanada.net) on: Sun Feb 20 19:16:10 EST 2000
  
  In 1968, Ujjal Dosanjh came to Canada from India as an immigrant. He worked in various jobs, and got involved in the political process. Today, he has been elected the Premier of the Province of British Columbia. This is equivalent to becoming the Chief Minister of a State in India. There are several Indians who are cabinet ministers and members of the provincial as well as federal legislative houses in this country. At least one (Indian) federal minister will be running for the leadership of the federal Liberal party and the Prime Ministership.
  
  Adrianne Clarkson who came to Canada as a refugee with her Chinese parents, is the current Governor General of Canada, equivalent to the President in India.
  
  I hope Sharad Pawar, A.P. Sangama and the Sangh Parivar will take notice of these developments in other parts of the world when they "review" the constitution of India.
  
  
  
• From: Sugrutha (@ 1cust173.tnt2.rahway.nj.da.uu.net) on: Wed Mar 1 08:55:09 EST 2000
  
  An intro to the people in the committe....Sarkaria is there too.
  
  http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/24tara1.htm
  
  
• From: Vassan (@ gup-002-dpm1.cia-g.com) on: Wed Mar 1 17:27:21 EST 2000
  
  
  Check this out
  
  http://www.indiaabroadonline.com/PublicAccess/ia-022500/India/Constitution.html
  
  
  
• From: ani (@ ) on: Fri Jul 27 12:20:47
  
  hello there,
  could you please tell me where and how can i find the laws in our indian constitution to protect women rights?
  
  
• From: shard (@ lan-202-144-125-38.maa.sify.net) on: Sat Jul 28 07:15:13
  
  The constitution of India is merely a guidline for governance. Ther need be nothing sacrosanct about it. If it needs to be reviewed then so be it.
  However, one needs to look deeper at who is doing the reviewing and to what end. It is obviously the Hindutva combine and their primary aim would be to declare India a Hindu state. The agenda is pretty self serving.
  
  
• From: Arun Kumar Mahapatra (@ ns.nls.ac.in) on: Mon Oct 27 09:10:36
  
  Do the provisions relating to "minority" under Indian Constitution(Art-29&30) is justified, cause it creats a majority, which is against Art-14?
  
  
• From: krithi (@ ) on: Thu Apr 15 13:59:06
  
  please tell me abt indian constitutional review by venkatachallaiah
  
  

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