google.com, pub-1675275063806243, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 INDIAN POLITY AND INDIAN HISTORY : The Preamble

Friday, 13 February 2015

The Preamble



The Preamble to the Constitution states the object which the Constitution seeks to establish and promote, and also aids the legal interpretation of the Constitution where the language is found ambiguous.

The ideals embodied in the Objectives Resolution is faithfully reflected in the preamble to the Constitution, which, as amended in 1976, summaries the aims and objects of the Constitution.

Text of the Preamble : “ We, the people of India having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and to secure to all citizens Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith  and worship Equality of status and  of opportunity; and promote among them all Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation in our Constituent Assemble on this twenty and integrity of the Nation in our Constituent Assemble on this twenty sixth day of November 1949, do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this constitution.”

The Preamble specifies the source of authority, i.e. people of India, the system of Government, the objectives to be attained by the political system and the date of adaptation and enactment of the Constitution.

Though, the Preamble is not enforceable in a court of law, it provides a key to the understanding and interpretation of the Constitution.

In case of doubt, the Supreme Court has referred to the Preamble to elucidate vague aspects of the Constitution.

In the Berubari, case, the Supreme Court held that the Preamble was not part of the Constitution, but later, in the Keshavananada Bharti case, it declared that it was part of the Constitution.

 Lapse of Paramountcy


When the Indian Independence Act 1947, was passed it declared the lapse of suzerainty (paramountcy) of the crown, in sec 7(i) (b) of the Act.

As from the appointed day- the suzerainty of his Majesty over the Indian States lapses, and with it, all treaties and agreements in force at the date of the passing of this Act between His Majesty and the rules of Indian States, all functions exercisable by His Majesty  at the date with respect to Indian States, all obligations  of His Majesty existing at that date towards Indian  states or the rulers thereof, and all powers , rights , authority, or jurisdiction exercised by His Majesty at that date in or in relation to Indian States by treaty, grant, usage, sufferance or otherwise…

Of thestatesituated within the geographical boundaries of the Dominion of India, all (numbering 552) save Hyderabed, Kashmir, Bahawalpur, Junagarh and the N.W.F. (North West Frothier ) states (Chitral, phulra, Dir, Swat and Amb) had acceded to the Dominion of Indian by the 15th August , 1947, i.e. before the ‘appointed day’ itself.

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