'Panel will review only working of Constitution'

By Our Staff Correspondent

SHIMOGA, JUNE 30. The former Chief Justice of India and the Chairman of the Constitution Review Commission, Mr. Justice M.N.Venkatachalaih, has welcomed the debate and criticism on the setting up of a commission to review the Constitution and said: "It is a good thing because it shows that democracy is still vibrant." He was reacting to a query on whether it was proper to question the necessity to set up a review committee when it was already functioning.

Talking to presspersons here on Friday, he although said the reaction from various sections to the setting up of the Constitution Review Commission was mixed, most of such criticism was because of the feeling that it was a review of the Constitution. "In reality, it is not so as it is only a stock- taking review of the working of the Constitution in the last 50 years to findout whether the legislature, judiciary and executive have responded to Constitutional aspirations in tune with socio- economic changes."

He said there was no need to have a second look at the Constitution as there were many issues which needed to be reviewed in the light of the experience gained in the last 50 years. He pointed out that the country had only 33 million people when the Constitution was framed. Today, the number of children below 14 years was as much.

Mr. Venkatachalaih said nearly 88 per cent of the pregnant women were anaemic. The biggest problem was how to ensure proper health care to them. Unless, this was done, the children born to such women would be "rendered uneducable." "This is the biggest problem of human dignity and honour," he said. Another issue that required immediate attention related to the education of girls.

Asked about the progress made by the Commission since it was constituted, he said it had set up 10 advisory expert panels to prepare consultative papers and questionnaires for eliciting public opinion. Such panels would seek the help of research institutions in preparing the statistical back-up required.

Mr. Venkatachalaih said the response to various issues involved in the review of the functioning of the Constitution would be evaluated by the commission with the help of these advisory panels.

Asked whether the commission would submit its report within a year, he said it had been constituted only on March 23. "However, it will be our endeavour to maintain the time schedule," he added.

On whether the commission would to hold sittings in different parts of the country, Mr. Venkatachalaih said eminent persons and leaders of various parties had desired to express their opinion. The question of holding sittings outside Delhi would be taken up when the commission met on July 8 to sort out procedural issues.

He refused to comment on the J&K Government adopting a resolution to be autonomous. He, however, added that the commission would consider the issue if necessary. He also refused to comment on the ongoing agitation in various parts of North Karnataka in support of the demand to set up a High Court Bench there. He said: "It is not proper for me to comment when the issue is being politicised." On whether the issue should be considered from the point of the convenience of the judges or from that of the litigant public, he said it should be settled with the larger point of view in mind.

When it was pointed out that the writ jurisdiction could be extended to district courts to reduce the burden on High Courts, he said the former Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Venkataramaiah, had made this suggestion only in case of writ petitions pertaining to habeas corpus cases. This issue could be considered by the commission when it reviewed judicial matters. He said the district courts had been asked to dispose of cases of human rights violation in a similar manner.

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