Govt for pruning Art 356 powers8217;

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 11: The Centre will ask the Constitutional Review Commission headed by Justice M N Venkatachaliah to scrutinise and cu...

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 11: The Centre will ask the Constitutional Review Commission headed by Justice M N Venkatachaliah to scrutinise and curtail the quot;much abusedquot; powers under Article 356 to impose central rule in states, Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani said on Friday.

quot;We will tell the Commission that Article 356 powers should be limited and curtailed to stop its misuse,quot; Jethmalani told PTI. Asked whether Article 370 giving the present special status to Jammu and Kashmir would also be reviewed, the Minister said, quot;As far as our Government is concerned review of Article 370 is not on the agenda, however, if any person represents the Commission on the issue, the same could be considered by the expert body,quot; he said.

Jethmalani on Friday met Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and submitted a list of members for the 11-member Commission. quot;He the PM may finalise the list of members in the Constitutional Review Commission overnight or may take some time,quot; Jethmalani said. However, sources in the Ministrysaid the constitution of the Commission would be known by Monday.

Asked who would be part of the Commission, Jethmalani said, quot;No staunch supporter of the ruling party NDA would be part of the Commission. It will consist of independent experts who command respect nationwide,quot; he added.

Elaborating on Article 356, Jethmalani charged the Congress Government with having misused it the most by imposing central rule in states under most whimsical pretexts.

quot;We will not misuse article 356 and we want to limit it to such an extent that even if the succeeding Governments become unreasonable, they cannot misuse it,quot; he said. Asked what would be the Government8217;s plea before the Commission, the Law Minister said 90 per cent of the present Constitution consisting of the quot;basic featuresquot; would not be touched.

Asked what was the necessity for the review, Jethmalani said, quot;I do not understand the hullabaloo being raised against the Commission. What is wrong in doing some thinking. It is those who amended theConstitution 79 times in 50 years who are opposing the review.