Foundation for Amity and National Solidarity Fans India
Foundation for Amity and National Solidarity Fans India
Foundation for Amity and National Solidarity Fans India
Foundation for Amity and National Solidarity Fans India

Seminars

Date : August 28-29, 1992


Subject : The Working of The Constitution and the Need For Constitutional Reforms


Location : India International Centre, New Delhi

Welcome Address

Mr. Virendar Mohan Trehan, President, FANS

Chief Guest

Dr. Karan Singh

Presided by

Dr. L.M. Singhvi

Summary Presentation

Dr. Subhash C. Kashyap

Vote of Thanks

Mr. A. Madhavan, Director, I.I.C

I Business Session

  • The Political System
    • Institutional Structure, Political Process and Constitutional Framework
    • Social Diversities, Nation Formation and the Constitution.
  • Fundamental Rights, Inequalities and Socio-Economic Justice

II Business Session - Working of the Constitution

Union- State Relations

  • Legislative Relations
  • Problems of Economic Growth, Planning and Resource Distribution

Federal Structure and Reorganization of States

Decentralization of Powers up to Panchayat Levels

Functioning of Government at State Level

III Business Session - Institutional Structure and Relations

  • Executive – Legislature-Judiciary
  • Statutory Institution and their Functioning vis-à-vis the Constitution.
  • Political Parties, Representation of the People, Elections and Electoral Reforms
  • Citizenship
    • Criteria
    • Rights and Duties

IV Business Session - Need for Reforms, Areas and Alternatives

  • Change, Stability and Constitutional Framework
  • Whether suggested amendments possible within the existing provisions of the Constitution or whether institutional restructuring called for and if so, the alternative available.
  • Mechanism for Change

Conclusions

  • Constitution of a country may to described as its foundational law. Every Constitution represents the vision of the Founding Fathers. It is wrong to regard constitutions as a mere inert document. Constitution is a living organization of functioning institutions.
  • National scenario is not conducive for the protection of Constitutional Values. There is general decline in standard of behavior and conduct of mutual relations.
  • It does not require much analysis to find that high principles and values enshrined in the Preamble and Directive Principles of State Policy have largely remained mere words on paper and have not been followed in practice.
  • Political corruption, communalism, casteism and regionalism are largely responsible for the failure of Constitution to deliver.
  • The alternative to the existing model of governance is Presidential form of Government.
  • It was agreed that it is not the written Constitution that matters but the people working the Constitution.
  • Fundamental right to property should to restored and property laws, rent laws and labour laws suitably amended.
  • Right to re-call the elected representative for non-performance to be enshrined in the constitution.
  • It was generally felt that the present system of Parliament Democracy is best suited to the Country.
  • Secularism has to be propagated.