National Commission to review the working of the Constitution


The National Commission to review the working of the Constitution also known as Justice Manepalli Narayana Rao Venkatachaliah Commission was set up by a resolution of the NDA Government of India led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 22 February 2000 for suggesting possible amendments to the Constitution of India. It submitted its report in 2002.

Terms of reference of the Commission

The terms of reference given to the Commission stated that the Commission shall examine, in the light of the experience of the past fifty years, as to how best the Constitution can respond to the changing needs of efficient, smooth and effective system of governance and socio-economic development of modern India within the framework of parliamentary democracy, and to recommend changes, if any, that are required in the provisions of the Constitution without interfering with its 'basic structure' or 'basic features'.

Composition of Commission

The 11-member commission was headed by Retired Chief Justice of India Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah. The other members of the Commission were B.P. Jeevan Reddy, R.S. Sarkaria, K.Punnayya, Soli Sorabjee, K. Parasaran, Subhash C. Kashyap, C.R. Irani, Abid Hussain, Sumitra Kulkarni and P. A. Sangma.

Report

The Commission was asked to complete its work and make recommendations within one year. However, after three extensions, the Commission submitted its report on 31 March 2002. The report is bulky one, comprising 1979 pages in two-volumes was received by Law and Justice Minister Arun Jaitley. Volume I contains the recommendations while Volume II consists of detailed consultation papers, background papers, details of deliberations and the report of its drafting and editorial committee dividing into three books.

Volume I

  1. Introduction 1
  2. Basic Approach and Perspective
  3. Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties
  4. Electoral Processes and Political Parties
  5. Parliament and State Legislatures
  6. Executive and Public Administration
  7. The Judiciary
  8. Union-State Relations
  9. Decentralization and Devolution
  10. Pace of Socio-Economic Change

  11. Volume II

Book 1

  1. Gazette Notifications
  2. Advisory Panels
  3. Consultation Papers
  4. #Enlargement of Fundamental Rights
  5. #Pace of Socio-Economic Change under the Constitution
  6. #Literacy in the context of the Constitution of India
  7. #Social Security and Employment
  8. #Effectuation of Fundamental Duties of Citizens
  9. #Review of the Working of Political Parties specially in relation to Elections and Reform Options
  10. #Review of Election Law, Processes and Reform Options
  11. #Immunity of Legislators: What do the words ‘in respect of anything said or any vote given by him’ in article 105 signify?
  12. #Efficacy of Public Audit System in India: C&AG
  13. #Probity in Governance
  14. #Liability of State in Tort
  15. #Superior Judiciary
  16. #All India Judicial Service

    Book 2

  17. Consultation Papers
  18. #Financial Autonomy of the Indian Judiciary
  19. #Constitutional Mechanism for the settlement of Inter-State Disputes
  20. #Treaty-making power under our Constitution
  21. #The Institution of Governor under the Constitution
  22. #Article 356 of the Constitution
  23. #Review of the Working of the Constitutional Provisions for Decentralisation
  24. #Decentralization and Municipalities
  25. #Empowering and Strengthening local self-government in Cantonments
  26. #Empowerment and Strengthening of Panchayat Raj Institutions/ Autonomous District Councils/Traditional tribal governing institutions in North East India

    Book 3

  27. Background Papers
  28. #Working of Parliament and Need for Reforms
  29. #Some ideas in Governance
  30. #Concurrent Power of Legislation under List III of the Indian Constitution
  31. #Fiscal and Monetary Policies
  32. #Barriers to Inter-State Trade & Commerce – The Case of Road Transport
  33. #Article 262 and Inter-State Disputes relating to Water
  34. #Pace of Socio-Economic Change and Development under the Constitution
  35. List of Organisations/Individuals who sent representations to the Commission
  36. List of Organisations/individuals who responded to the Consultation Papers/Questionnaires issued by the Commission
  37. List of Organisations/Delegations/individuals who interacted with the Commission
  38. List of Seminars sponsored by the Commission
  39. Minutes of meetings of the Commission
  40. Report of the Drafting and Editorial Committee

    Implementation

The recommendations have not been accepted by consecutive governments.