AMENDMENTS SECTION OF: 1-4

 THE CONSTITUTION (TWENTY-SIXTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 1971

SECTION OF: 1-4

TWENTY-SIXTH AMENDMENT

Statement of Objects and Reasons appended to the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Bill, 1971 which was enacted as THE CONSTITUTION (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The concept of rulership, with privy purses and special privileges unrelated to current functions and social purposes, is incompatible with an egalitarian social order. The government has, therefore, decided to terminate the privy purses and privileges of the Rulers of former Indian States. It is necessary for this purpose, apart from amending the relevant provisions of the Constitution, to insert a new article therein so as to terminate expressly the recognition already granted to such Rulers and to abolish privy purses and extinguish all rights, liabilities, and obligations in respect of privy purses. Hence this Bill.

NEW DELHI INDIRA GANDHI.

The 31st July 1971.

THE CONSTITUTION (TWENTY-SIXTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 1971

[28th December 1971.]

An Act further to amend the Constitution of India.

 BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-second Year of the Republic of India as follows:

1. Short title.-This Act may be called the Constitution (Twenty-sixty Amendment) Act, 1971.

2. Omission of articles 291 and 362. Articles 291 and 362 of the Constitution shall be omitted.

3. Insertion of new article 363A.-After article 363 of the Constitution, the following article shall be inserted, namely:

 "363A. Recognition was granted to Rulers of Indian States to cease and privy purses to be abolished.-

Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution or in any law for the time being in force-

(a) The Prince, Chief or other people who, at any time before the commencement of THE CONSTITUTION (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, was recognized by the President as the Ruler of an Indian State or any person who, at any time before such commencement, was recognized by

the President as the successor of such Ruler shall, on and from such commencement, cease to be recognized as such Ruler or the successor of such Ruler;

 (b) on and from the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, the privy purse is abolished. All rights, liabilities, and obligations in respect of the privy purse are extinguished. Accordingly, the Ruler or, as the case may be, the successor of such Ruler, referred to in clause (a) or any other person shall not be paid any sum as privy purse".

 4. Amendment of article 366.-In article 366 of the Constitution, for clause (22), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:-

(22) "Ruler" means the Prince, Chief, or other people who, at any time before the commencement of THE CONSTITUTION (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, was recognized by the President as the Ruler of an Indian State or any person who, at any time before such commencement, was recognized by the President as the successor of such Ruler.