National

Statute panel begins finalising report
By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI, FEB. 19. The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution today began giving a final shape to the report to be submitted to the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, on March 14. (The panel's two-year tenure comes to an end on February 28.)

In its report to be presented in two volumes, the commission is understood to have favoured the insertion of several new provisions in the relevant Articles of the Constitution to strengthen and enlarge the scope of fundamental rights of citizens.

The commission is also to recommend widening its scope by incorporating the words that the freedom ``shall include freedom of the press and other media, the freedom of hold opinions and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas''.

The scope of life and personal liberty under Article 21 would be given a wider meaning to ensure ``no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment''.

Free education

It is also proposed to make free elementary education to children a fundamental right under the Constitution by adding a new `clause' to Article 30 to ensure that ``every child shall have a right to free elementary education of quality until he/she completes the age of 14 years''.

The recommendations would also touch upon the areas relating to pollution and ecological degradation; promote conservation and secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development. It is also proposed to suggest amendments for implementing the provisions relating to the Directive Principles of State Policy.

According to highly placed sources, the panel has decided not to pursue the issue relating to citizens of foreign origin holding high constitutional posts raised by the NCP leader, P.A. Sangma.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Rly. Budget to focus on financial management
• We too can create trouble, PM tells Pak.
• Differences in BJP on Govt. formation with BSP support
• Statute panel begins finalising report
• When all roads led to Shivpuri
• NDA rebels may upset BJP
• New SEBI chief
• `Rani of Amethi' stakes claim
• `Courts cannot decide on Ram's birthplace'
• SC sets aside order on Fishermen's Act
• SC waives damages imposed on Sheila Kaul
• Police `excesses' as Gujarat campaign ends
• One more extension for J&K Chief Secretary
• Steps towards universal elementary education
• All set for Jammu-Poonch LS byelection: EC
• My stand on Ayodhya vindicated: V. P. Singh
• Karim Lala dead
• Farooq hints at quitting NDA
• `Terrorists wanted to secure release of 3 men from jails'
• MP's house raided
• NTPC rejects DPC take-over proposal

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu