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Constitution panel to study macro issues

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, March 24

THE National Commission to review the working of the Constitution, in its maiden meeting held here on Thursday, noted its term of reference and clarified that it did not require the Commission to ``rewrite'' the Constitution.

As the name of the Commission itself indicates, its function is to ``review the working of the Constitution'' and not rewrite the Constitution, according to an official release.

The Commission emphasised that its function is essentially advisory in nature. There is need to maintain and strengthen the constitutional provisions for raising the living conditions of the poor and the deprived and to ensure them an adequate means of l ivelihood.

The Commission will examine the working of the present provisions in the Constitution and the applicable laws and practices and consider how better to achieve these objectives. The Commission generally discussed the areas of immediate contemporary concer n which it proposes to examine, such as:

IStrengthening the institutions of Parliamentary democracy and their accountability; the grave and persisting menace of unprincipled defections.

IConstitution and pace of socio-economic change and development: promoting literacy, generating employment, ensuring social security and removal of poverty.

IUnion-State relations: working of Article 356, appointment and removal of Governors.

IDecentralisation and devolution of powers, strengthening of Panchayati Raj institutions.

IFiscal and monetary policies, size of Government and of Government expenditure. Efficacy of public audit mechanism.

The Commission proposes to prepare a consultation paper on each of these areas alongwith a questionnaire, formulated in an appropriate format. This shall be circulated to political parties, constitutional and statutory commissions, research institutes, m edia and NGOs and other organisations concerned. This consultation paper and the questionnaire will be placed on the Commission's Web site for eliciting public response and suggestions.

The proposed recommendations of the Commission will again be put to public debate. After considering the various view-points and responses, the Commissions would forward its recommendations to the Government.