Something seems to be seriously wrong with the mindset of the people, not only in Manipur but in the entire country. In this 21st century – is the real power to govern this country is vested in its people? But the question that often arises is, does the constitution in true terms express the will of the people or is has it just become a tool in the hands of some hungry politicians? Are the people of India in real terms assured of Justice, liberty, equality and fraternity? Is the common man today receiving justice? Does equality really prevail? Is Liberty being exercised by all today?
In the wake of the changing times in the Indian society a constitutional review is highly required. The constitution, though a very impressive piece, has failed in some respects. And in this article, I wish to express my opinion on the need of an overhaul in our constitution.
The preamble says that we are a Democratic Republic. What does democracy mean to all of us? To define it in a layman’s language Democracy means that the power is in the hands of the people to decide how and by whom the country is run. But today does the real power lie in the hands of the people as it was believed when the constitution was applied? It is no more ‘by and for the people’. Now it is more or less a board game and the players are the politicians with personal profits as the winning amount.
Bo doubt, Indian constitution is a borrowed constitution. When the drafting committee drafted it, they adopted a major part of it from the Government of India Act 1935 with few modifications here and there. Besides this, many provisions borrowed from various other constitutions of the world are included. The Parliamentary System has been taken from the British Constitution and Judicial Review & federalism from the US Constitution. Many provisions need to be amended as they were adopted from the 1935 Act and maybe worked for that period; however in today’s time they have become obsolete.
One of the biggest flaws of our constitution is the never-ending length due to the tough language in which it has been drafted. Being the sovereign document of our country it should have been drafted in a language easily comprehendible by the citizens. But unfortunately the legal jargon used can hardly be deciphered by the common man. With that length, the parliament today will never get the time to modify and simplify it but I feel this is something which should have been kept in mind at the time of its commencement.
Securing justice to all — social, economical and political, is one of the chief aims of our constitution. But this has hardly been actually put into action.
And most frustrating part is that when the constitution of India was framed, Manipur was a sovereign independent kingdom.
