Statute Review panel to submit report by March 2001

By S.K.Ramoo

BANGALORE, MAY 5. The Constitution Review Commission (CRC) headed by Mr. Justice, M.N.Venkatachalaiah, former Chief Justice of India, is expected to present its comprehensive report to Parliament by March 2001.

It will, however, consider whether there was any need to come out with an interim report before finalisation of compendious recommendations. The draft recommendations will be subjected to a thorough public debate. The ten expert panels constituted by it, and headed by eminent persons in respective fields, are currently engaged in the preparation of ``consultation''or ``position''papers. They will be assisted by reputed research organisations with the back-up of statistical support. These position papers will be used to ensure that the Commission is on the right track and also to elicit public opinion.

The Commission is planning to conduct five seminars in five different corners of the country, where academicians, public men and politicians will debate the various aspects of the position papers, and their suggestions will be incorporated in the draft report. It is primarily concerned with the working of the Constitution in the 50-year period as it has made very little impact on the lifestyle of the people at large.

The panels will be deliberating on issues such as enlargement of fundamental rights in the light of recent court pronouncements, human rights norms, evaluation, utility and relevance of the parliamentary democracy and lessons of experience gained. The Directive Principles of State Policy will be scrutinised afresh to find out how far they are justifiable and enforceable. The pace of economic change, development, impact of economic liberalisation and social opportunities will be studied in depth. The panels on electoral reforms and Panchayat Raj institutions are likely to make far-reaching recommendations. The panel on regulation of fiscal and monetary policies and efficacy of the public auditing system is likely to make crucial recommendations.

The other important public issue - the need to codify the privileges of Parliament members - will be debated. The CRC will specifically deliberate on the phenomenon of political defections, hung parliament and whether Parliament should have a fixed tenure. The implications of political instability on the country's economic and other segments of activities will also be discussed at great length.

Significantly, the CRC is getting ready a draft legislation to effectively deal with corruption and ill-gotten wealth. One of its provisions will be confiscation by the State of both ill- gotten and legitimate wealth of proven corrupt individuals. The draft legislation, which will broadly deal with corruption in high places, will also be subjected to wide public discussion.

The education system, environmental issues, public health and the country's demographical criticalities will also be discussed. It will also deliberate whether the existing mechanisms are adequate enough to meet the challenge of explosion of AIDS and TB scourge, which in the coming years are likely to have debilitating and devastating effect on the country's population. The threat of possible water famine and watershed development will also figure prominently in the deliberations.

Mr. Justice Venkatachalaiah and members of the Commission feel deeply hurt by, what they characterise as ``orchestrated attacks and campaign'' unleashed against the Commission. In their view, the current vilification and disinformation campaign is totally unwarranted and unjustified. They feel that a section of academicians and intellectuals is determined to misunderstand and misrepresent the objectives of the CRC.

``Why should any body think that we are determined to defile and destroy the Constitution and tear asunder the fabric of parliamentary democracy,'' one of them asked. He stated that there would have been no justification for the setting up of the Commission, if Parliament had undertaken the task. According to the members of the CRC, countries wedded to democracy are constantly updating their respective constitutions by periodical review of their working. They are ``amazed and pained'' that the national press has not cared to represent facts relating to the establishment of the Commission and its working.

Mr. Justice Venkatachalaiah has refused to draw any remuneration except a token amount of Re.one per month. Most other members of the Commission have declined to accept Rs.1,000 prescribed as sitting fee for each meeting as they view the whole exercise as a ``call of national duty''.

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