Renewed political interest in the Indian Constitution

Source: The post renewed political interest in the Indian Constitution has been created, based on the article “Our focus on the Constitution is edifying but we must not deify it” published in “Live Mints” on 29th July 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- Polity-Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

Concern: The article discusses the resurgence of interest in the Indian Constitution during elections. It warns against conflating the Constitution with specific policies like reservations. It emphasizes respecting the Constitution without deifying it and urges adherence to constitutional values in daily conduct.

For detailed information on Constitutionalism read this article here

Why is there renewed political interest in the Indian Constitution during the general election?

1. Central Role in Elections: The Indian Constitution became a focal point during the elections, with opposition politicians showcasing pocketbook editions and the government celebrating its 75th anniversary on a grand scale.
2. Republican Concerns: Indian republicans, who support constitutional values, felt marginalized as both the left and right often ignored constitutional norms.
3. Supreme Court Rulings: The Supreme Court has sometimes sided with popular opinion over constitutional principles, increasing the urgency to uphold the Constitution.
4. Reservations Debate: The Constitution was mistakenly equated with reservation policies, leading people to vote to preserve these policies, which could skew public perception.

What are the concerns related to conflating the Constitution with specific policies?

1. Misleading Voters: Equating the Constitution with reservation policies can mislead voters. It simplifies a complex document into a single policy.
2. Ambedkar’s Caution: B.R. Ambedkar avoided embedding specific policies like socialism in the Constitution. He believed future generations should not be committed to specific policies.
3. Social Justice Goals: Reservations are one method for achieving social justice, but not the only one. The Constitution supports exploring better methods.
4. Potential Division: Those opposed to reservations might unnecessarily oppose the Constitution. This can create unnecessary divisions.
5. Historical Misinterpretation: Figures like Ambedkar warned against hero worship. His ideas on constitutionalism are often ignored, emphasizing the need to focus on broader principles rather than specific policies.

What should be done?

1. Promote Constitutional Values: Encourage adherence to the Constitution in daily conduct. Example: “Dharmo rakshati rakshitaah” emphasizes protecting constitutional values.
2. Respect, Don’t Deify: Treat the Constitution as a social contract, not a holy book. Example: Figures like Gandhi and Ambedkar were elevated but often forgotten in principle.
3. Respect Judicial Independence: Remember the Chief Justice’s warning about not deifying courts or judges, maintaining their role as public servants adhering to constitutional morality.

Question for practice:

Discuss the concerns related to conflating the Indian Constitution with specific policies like reservations during elections.