Indian Constitution controversy deepens as Law Minister Meghwal clarifies there’s no plan to remove ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ from the Preamble, despite ongoing public and political debates.
Rahul Gandhi has criticized the RSS for questioning the terms “secular” and “socialist” in the Constitution’s Preamble, accusing them of favoring the Manusmriti agenda. He claims the RSS aims to undermine the rights of marginalized groups and has warned them against their intentions. The controversy follows an RSS demand for debate on these terms.
Today, On 25th November, the Supreme Court dismissed PILs to remove “secular” and “socialist” from the Indian Constitution’s Preamble. The Chief Justice stated that Parliament can amend the Preamble, and the court emphasized that defining these terms is a governmental responsibility. The terms were added in 1976 through the 42nd amendment.
The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on petitions challenging the inclusion of “socialist” and “secular” in the Indian Constitution’s Preamble, scheduled for November 25. CJI Sanjiv Khanna emphasized secularism as a core constitutional aspect and noted prior judicial review of the 42nd Amendment, rejecting claims of its unconstitutionality during the Emergency.
The Supreme Court, today (21st October) addressing challenges to the 42nd Amendment’s inclusion of “socialist” and “secular” in the Preamble, emphasized these terms’ relevance in the Indian context rather than solely from a Western view. Justices questioned the amendment’s legitimacy due to lack of parliamentary debate during the national emergency, scheduling further hearings for November.
The Supreme Court is examining a plea filed by Dr. Subramanian Swamy to remove “Socialist” and “Secular” from the Indian Constitution’s Preamble. This raises questions about amending the Preamble without changing its original adoption date. The case delves into legal and ideological aspects and may redefine the Constitution’s interpretative boundaries.
