Sixteen Stormy Days

by Tripurdaman Singh

85. Ibid, p. 8832.

  86. Dr. S.P. Mookerji, 16 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 8836.

  87. Ibid, p. 8838.

  88. Ibid, pp. 8841–43.

  89. Ibid, p. 8838.

  90. Ibid, p. 8855.

  91. Ibid, p. 8846.

  92. Ibid, pp. 8849–50

  93. Ibid, p. 8850.

  94. Ibid, pp. 8851–52.

  95. Ibid, p. 8851.

  96. Ibid, p. 8856.

  97. Prof. N.G. Ranga, 16 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 8857.

  98. Ibid.

  99. ‘Proposed Changes in Constitution: Mr. Nehru’s Assurances in Parliament’, Times of India, 17 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  100. Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), pp. 8856–80.

  101. Kameshwar Singh, 16 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 8865.

  102. Ibid, p. 8867.

  103. Jawaharlal Nehru to Chief Ministers, 17 May 1951, G. Parthasarathi, ed., Letters to Chief Ministers, 1947-1964, Vol. 2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1986), p. 397.

  Chapter 6: The Battle Rages

  1. Jawaharlal Nehru to G.V. Mavalankar, 16 May 1951, S. Gopal, ed., Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 16/1 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1994), p. 171. Also see footnote to the letter.

  2. Ibid, p. 172.

  3. Ibid.

  4. ‘Right of Freedom of Speech Being Curtailed: Further Criticism of Bill to Amend Constitution’, Times of India, 18 May 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  5. M.P. Mishra, 17 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 8989.

  6. ‘Amendment Bill Referred to Select Committee’, Times of India, 19 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  7. ‘Right of Freedom of Speech Being Curtailed: Further Criticism of Bill to Amend Constitution’, Times of India, 18 May 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  8. H.N. Kunzru, 17 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 8902.

  9. ‘Right of Freedom of Speech Being Curtailed: Further Criticism of Bill to Amend Constitution’, Times of India, 18 May 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  10. Ibid.

  11. ‘Inherent police powers’ or ‘implied police powers’ refers to the US Supreme Court reading into the bare-bones US Constitution, through a process of interpretation, certain limited grounds for the state to restrict the otherwise expansive right to freedom of speech and expression to protect its own security. Since the US Constitution only enumerated certain freedoms without mentioning the grounds on which they could be restricted, the doctrine of ‘police powers’ was progressively evolved by the Supreme Court to deal with major threats to state security. In contrast, in India, the grounds on which rights may be restricted are written into the Constitution, precluding the need or the ability of the Supreme Court to read any ‘police powers’ into the fundamental rights provisions.

  12. ‘Amendment Bill Referred to Select Committee’, Times of India, 19 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  13. B.R. Ambedkar, 18 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 9028.

  14. Jawaharlal Nehru, 18 May 1951, Ibid, p. 9083.

  15. ‘Nehru’s Bill Sent to Select Committee’, The Statesman, 19 May 1951, Calcutta, p. 1.

  16. See, for example, ‘Mr. Kripalani Resigns from Congress’, Times of India, 18 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1; ‘Kripalani Resigns from Congress: 1500 word Letter to Tandon’, The Leader, 18 May 1951, Allahabad, p. 1.

  17. ‘All Opposition Forces to be Gathered into One Fold: Acharya Kripalani’s Aim’, Times of India, 19 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  18. ‘Amendment Bill: Congress Parliamentary Party Meeting’, Times of India, 21 May 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  19. Jawaharlal Nehru to Chief Ministers, 17 May 1951, G. Parthasarathi, ed., Letters to Chief Ministers, 1947-1964, Vol. 2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1986), p. 397.

  20. ‘Editors Meet Mr. Nehru’, Times of India, 21 May 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  21. ‘Amendment of Constitution Not Right Now: Lawyers Urged to Protest’, Times of India, 17 May 1951, Bombay, p. 7.

  22. ‘Lawyers Criticise Proposed Measure’, The Statesman, 17 May 1951, Calcutta, p. 5.

  23. Ibid.

  24. ‘Amendments to Constitution: Time Inopportune’, Times of India, 18 May 1951, Bombay, p. 7.

  25. ‘Press Privileges in Constitution: Amendment Uncalled For’, Times of India, 22 May 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  26. Jawaharlal Nehru to Deshbandhu Gupta, 20 May 1951, S. Gopal, ed., Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 16/1 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1994), p. 188.

  27. Ibid.

  28. ‘Guarding Press Liberties’, Times of India, 24 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  29. ‘Inept, Ill Advised and Ill Timed’, The Statesman, 19 May 1951, Calcutta, p. 5.

  30. ‘Freedoms of the Press’, Times of India, 21 May 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  31. Ibid.

  32. Ibid.

  33. ‘Fundamental Changes: Government’s Undignified Haste, By Vivek’, Times of India, 23 May 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  34. Ibid.

  35. Ibid.

  36. ‘The Great Debate: Amendments to Constitution’, Times of India, 22 May 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  37. ‘Reader’s Views: The Constitution’, Times of India, 24 May 1951, Bombay, p. 6.

  38. Jawaharlal Nehru to T.T. Krishnamachari, 22 May 1951, S. Gopal, ed., Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 16/1 (New Delhi: 1994), p. 189.

  39. Ibid.

  40. ‘Constitution Amendment Bill to Be Modified: Bid to Meet Criticism’, Times of India, 25 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  41. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 47.

  42. ‘Constitution Amendment Bill to Be Modified: Bid to Meet Criticism’, Times of India, 25 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  43. Jawaharlal Nehru to B.C. Roy, 25 May 1951, S. Gopal, ed., Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 16/1 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1994), p. 191.

  44. ‘Guarding Press Liberties: Editors’ Body to Meet’, Times of India, 24 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  45. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 97.

  46. ‘Changes in Bill to Amend Constitution’, The Leader, 26 May 1951, Allahabad, p. 1.

  47. Ibid.

  48. Ibid, p. 95.

  49. Jawaharlal Nehru to Rajendra Prasad, 25 May 1951, S. Gopal, ed., Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 16/1 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1994), p. 191. See footnote to letter.

  50. Ibid.

  51. Ibid, p. 192.

  52. Ibid.

  53. The Constitution (First Amendment) Bill, 1951: Report of the Select Committee, Parliament Library, New Delhi.

  54. ‘No Major Alteration in Bill to Amend Constitution: Report of Select Committee, Five Notes of Dissent’, Times of India, 26 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  55. ‘Report on Bill to Amend Constitution’, The Statesman, 26 May 1951, Calcutta, p. 5.

  56. Ibid.

  57. ‘No Major Alteration in Bill to Amend Constitution: Report of Select Committee, Five Notes of Dissent’, Times of India, 26 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  58. Ibid.

  59. ‘Report on Bill to Amend Constitution’, The Statesman, 26 May 1951, Calcutta, p. 5.

  60. Ibid.

  61. ‘No Major Alteration in Bill to Amend Constitution: Report of Select Committee, Five Notes of Dissent’, Times of India, 26 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  62. Sarvepalli Gopal, Jawaharlal Nehru: A Biography Volume Two: 1947-1956 (London: 1979), p. 312.

  63. ‘No Major Alteration in Bill to Amend Constitution: Report of Select Committee, Five Notes of Dissent’, Times of India, 26 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  64. ‘Not Enough’, Times of India, 28 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.
/>
  65. Ibid.

  66. Ibid.

  67. Ibid.

  68. Ibid.

  69. ‘Today’s Debate on Amendment Bill: Opposition Forces Gather Strength’, Times of India, 29 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  70. H.V. Kamath, 29 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 9612.

  71. Jawaharlal Nehru, 29 May 1951; Ibid, p. 9627.

  72. Ibid, p. 9623.

  73. Ibid, p. 9624.

  74. Ibid, p. 9628.

  75. Ibid, p. 9629.

  76. Ibid, p. 9630.

  77. ‘Government Armed to Fight Disruptive Forces: Mr. Nehru on Need for a Flexible Constitution’, Times of India, 30 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  78. Ibid.

  79. Ibid.

  80. Ibid.

  81. Ibid.

  82. ‘Storm Affects Parliament’, Times of India, 30 May 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  83. ‘Case for Amending Constitution Challenged’, The Statesman, 31 May 1951, Calcutta, p. 5.

  84. Rev. D’Souza, 30 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 9691.

  85. Ibid, p. 9693.

  86. ‘Restrictive Provisions Contained in Amendment Bill: Mookerji-Kripalani Attack in Parliament’, Times of India, 31 May 1951, Bombay, p. 7.

  87. Frank Anthony, 31 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 9789.

  88. Ibid.

  89. Ibid, p. 9788.

  90. ‘Restrictive Provisions Contained in Amendment Bill: Mookerji-Kripalani Attack in Parliament’, Times of India, 31 May 1951, Bombay, p. 7.

  91. S.P. Mookerji, 30 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 9685.

  92. Ibid, p. 9711.

  93. Ibid, p. 9702.

  94. Ibid, p. 9711.

  95. ‘Restrictive Provisions Contained in Amendment Bill: Mookerji-Kripalani Attack in Parliament’, Times of India, 31 May 1951, Bombay, p. 7.

  96. Ibid.

  97. Ibid.

  98. Acharya Kripalani, 30 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 9721.

  99. Ibid, p. 9725.

  100. Ibid, p. 9728.

  101. ‘Unconvincing’, Times of India, 31 May 1951, Bombay, p. 6.

  102. ‘Curves of Life’, Times of India, 1 June 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  103. ‘Fundamental Rights: To the Editor’, Times of India, 1 June 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  104. Constitutional Amendment: A Denial of Democracy, 31 May 1951, Bimal Prasad, ed., Jayaprakash Narayan: Selected Works, Vol. 6 (New Delhi: Manohar Books, 2005), p. 135.

  105. Jawaharlal Nehru, 31 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 9796.

  106. Jawaharlal Nehru, 31 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), pp. 9791–9800.

  107. ‘Parliament to Consider Bill to Amend Constitution’, Times of India, 1 June 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  108. ‘Parliament to Consider Constitution Bill: Big Majority for Nehru Motion’, The Statesman, 1 June 1951, Calcutta, p. 1.

  109. ‘Restrictive Provisions Contained in Amendment Bill: Mookerji-Kripalani Attack in Parliament’, Times of India, 31 May 1951, Bombay, p. 7.

  110. ‘Freedom of Vote on Bill: MP Seeks Permission’, Times of India, 1 June 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  111. H.V. Kamath, 1 June 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 9814, p. 9827.

  112. S.L. Saksena, 1 June 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 9814, p. 9819.

  113. M.A. Ayyangar, 1 June 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 9816.

  114. S.P. Mookerji, 1 June 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 9852, p. 9853.

  115. Ibid.

  116. Jawaharlal Nehru, 1 June 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 9876.

  117. Shyamnandan Sahay, 1 June 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 9911.

  118. ‘Controversial Clauses Adopted: Discussion on Constitution Amendment Bill’, Times of India, 2 June 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  119. Ibid.

  120. S.L. Saksena, 2 June 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 10039.

  121. Ibid, p. 10043.

  122. S.P. Mookerji, 2 June 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 10084, p. 10085.

  123. Ibid, p. 10086, p. 10089.

  124. Ibid, p. 10091.

  125. Jawaharlal Nehru to Chief Ministers, 15 June G. Parthasarathi, ed., Letters to Chief Ministers, 1947-1964, Vol. 2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1986), p. 417.

  126. Jawaharlal Nehru, 2 June 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 10092.

  127. S.P. Mookerji, 2 June 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 10092.

  128. ‘First Amendment to 17 Month Old Constitution Passed’, Times of India, 2 June 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  129. Ibid.

  130. For the back and forth between Nehru and Mookerji, see Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 10092, p. 10093.

  131. Ibid.

  132. Jawaharlal Nehru, 2 June 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 10094.

  133. Ibid, p. 10096.

  134. ‘First Amendment to 17 Month Old Constitution Passed’, Times of India, 2 June 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  135. Deputy Speaker, 2 June 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 10107.

  Chapter 7: The Aftermath

  1. ‘Fundamental Rights Restricted: Parliament Approves Amendments’, The Leader, 2 June 1951, Allahabad, p. 1.

  2. Jawaharlal Nehru to Chief Ministers, 2 June 1951, G. Parthasarathi, ed., Letters to Chief Ministers, 1947-1964, Vol. 2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1986), p. 405.

  3. ‘Respective Roles of Judiciary, Executive and Legislature: Independence of Each Must be Preserved’, Times of India, 6 June 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  4. Ibid.

  5. ‘Reader’s Views: Freedom of the Press’, Times of India, 7 June 1951, Bombay, p. 6.

  6. Remarks at a Press Conference: The Press and the Constitution (First Amendment) Bill, S. Gopal, ed., Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 16/1 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1994), p. 247.

  7. Rajendra Prasad to Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyyar, 14 June 1951, Valmiki Chaudhary, ed., Dr. Rajendra Prasad: Correspondence and Selected Documents, Vol. 14 (New Delhi: Allied Publishers, 1991), pp. 69–71.

  8. Ibid, p. 70.

  9. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 90.

  10. Record of Meeting with Deshbandhu Gupta, 19 June 1951, Valmiki Chaudhary, ed., Dr. Rajendra Prasad: Correspondence and Selected Documents, Vol. 14 (New Delhi: 1991), p. 220.

  11. Sankari Prasad Singh Deo v. Union of India, AIR 1951 SC 458; see also Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 91.

  12. Upendra Baxi, The Judiciary as a Resource for Indian Democracy, http://www.india-seminar.com/2010/615/615_upendra_baxi.htm (accessed on 20 November 2018).

  13. Record of Meeting with Deshbandhu Gupta, 19 June 1951, Valmiki Chaudhary, ed., Dr. Rajendra Prasad: Correspondence and Selected Documents, Vol. 14 (New Delhi: 1991), p. 221.

  14. Purvi Gharia Pokhariyal, ‘Critical Evaluation of the Functioning of Judicial Review in India’ (Unpublished PhD Thesis, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda: 2006), p. 243.

  15. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 50.

  16. Jawaharlal Nehru to Chief Ministers, 2 June 1951, G. Parthasarathi, ed., Letters to Chief Ministers, 1947-1964, Vol. 2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund 1986), p. 405.

  17. Jawaharlal Nehr
u to Chief Ministers, 15 June 1951, G. Parthasarathi, ed., Letters to Chief Ministers, 1947-1964, Vol. 2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1986), p. 419.

  18. Sarbani Sen, The Constitution of India: Popular Sovereignty and Democratic Transformations (New Delhi: 2007), p. 141.

  19. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 97.

  20. Jawaharlal Nehru to Chief Ministers, 15 June 1951, G. Parthasarathi, ed., Letters to Chief Ministers, 1947-1964, Vol. 2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1986), p. 418.

  21. Sajjan Singh v. State of Rajasthan, AIR 1965 SC 845; see also Madhav Khosla ‘Constitutional Amendment’ in Madhav Khosla, Sujit Chaudhary and Pratap Bhanu Mehta, eds., The Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2016), p. 236.

  22. Nivedita Menon, ‘Citizenship and the Passive Revolution: Interpreting the First Amendment’, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 39, No. 18, p. 1813.

  23. Sunil Khilnani, The Idea of India (New Delhi: 2012), p. 35.

  24. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 98.

  25. Gopal Sankarnaryanan, ‘The Fading Right to Property in India’, Law and Politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America, Vol. 44, No. 2, p. 217.

  26. A.G. Noorani, ‘Ninth Schedule and the Supreme Court’, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 42, No. 9, p. 732.

  27. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, AIR 1973 SC 1461.

  28. I.R. Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu, AIR 2007 SC 197.

  29. ‘Parliamentary Trends’, Times of India, 11 June 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  30. State of Bihar v. Maharaja Kameshwar Singh, AIR 1952 SC 252.

  31. Ibid.

  32. ‘Parliamentary Trends’, Times of India, 11 June 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  33. Sunil Khilnani, The Idea of India (New Delhi: 2012), p. 27.

  34. Ibid, p. 28.

  35. Speech at Mathura: Slanderous Gossips, 23 September 1949, B.R. Nanda, ed., Selected Works of Govind Ballabh Pant, Vol. 13 (New Delhi: 2000), p. 173.

  36. Sunil Khilnani, The Idea of India (New Delhi: Penguin Books, 2012), p. 26.

  37. Ibid.

  38. Ibid, p. 34.

  Acknowledgements

  This book owes a great debt of existence to my many friends, colleagues and mentors, without whom it would never have seen the light of day. To my parents, who have made my writing possible. To Mushtaq Ahmad Qureshi, who has been a tremendous source of support and guidance. To Digvijay Singh Deo, the first writer in the family and a constant source of inspiration and encouragement. To Kanishka Gupta, agent extraordinaire who has sagely watched over the book from day one, much like an indulgent parent. To Swati Chopra, who has been a kind, considerate editor. To Milee Ashwarya, for being a thoughtful and generous publisher. To Nadia Cavalletto, who kept me company over long hours in the library while I bounced ideas off her, and tolerated my irascible temperament while I worked on the manuscript. To the many friends and colleagues who have endured my ranting about the First Amendment and my unsociable behaviour while I wrote, and been kind enough to engage with and champion my ideas—Professor Adeel Hussain, Dr Anshul Avijit, Professor Parul Bhandari, Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, Professor Tahir Kamran and Mr Amir Khan (who is not an academic but still knows some stuff). To Lucy Jacobsen, Mieke van Vlaanderen, Aviv Fonea, Genevieve Hampson, Plum Schrager, Simon Wolf, Francesca Andrews, Casra Labelle, Karolina Adamkiewicz, William Marks, Siddhartha Chaturvedi, Catherine Katz, Kathryn Santner, Imran Jumabhoy, Caroline af Rosenborg, Sarah Mytom-Hart—who couldn’t care less about my ideas but are still great supporters of my literary and academic ambitions. To the many ‘elder statesmen’ and mentors who gave me their time, their advice and their opinions on the manuscript—Professor James Manor, Dr Swapan Dasgupta, Lord Meghnad Desai, Fali Nariman, giants of their fields who I am privileged to have known and interacted with. To Divyashree Kumari at Sirmur Heritage Stays, for the perfect writer’s retreat. To everyone at Penguin, who have done a sterling job in bringing the book to life—especially Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri and Ujjaini Dasgupta. And, finally, to all of the book’s readers—present and future—who I hope will find it an interesting and thought-provoking read, and the beginning of a much-needed conversation about the Constitution. Thank you.