In the 32nd amendment to the Constitution, two new articles 371 (D) and 371 (E) were inserted with the header, ‘Special provisions with respect to Andhra Pradesh’. This amendment was then inserted into the 7th schedule of the Indian Constitution which deals with the Union list, State list and the Concurrent list. Article 368 clearly states that if any change is to be made under the 7th schedule, then it has to be adopted by a special majority. Both houses of Parliament have to pass the Bill with a two thirds majority. Such an amendment also has to be ratified by state legislatures. This means 50 per cent of the states have to give their nod in case the amendment has to be ratified. If the ruling United Progressive Alliance agrees to the creation of a separate state and seeks a Constitutional Amendment, it would require a special majority and the agreement of 50 per cent of Indian states. To cut a long story short, the ruling alliance would need a national consensus on the Constitutional Amendment to create Telangana. Merely agreeing to the creation of a state to earn brownie points before the Lok Sabha polls will not solve this niggling problem.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Oct 2013 12:42:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015