Opinion President Speaks

Indian Express

“A Constitution is not intended to be a static document. In a developing society, its provisions must lend themselves to meeting the changing needs and requirements of the society,” observed President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, addressing the Andhra Pradesh High Court Advocates’ Association in Hyderabad. “Rampant indiscipline in every walk was ruining our country and the Emergency, which was promulgated under the provision of the Constitution has not only been approved by Parliament but also welcomed by people at large,” he said. I believe the Emergency is a passing phase but the era of permissive politics and national degeneration is over and we will never allow that phase to be repeated again, he said.

Poll Law Postures
Post examination of election scrutiny for declaring an election void is not a necessary ingredient for assuring free and fair elections, A.K. Sen, counsel for Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, contended before the Supreme Court. Sen was responding to Raj Narain’s counsel, Shanti Bhushan, who had argued that the 39th Amendment, having not provided for a forum to adjudicate on election petitions, had left a vacuum. He contended that the election laws have sufficient safeguards, like delimitation of constituencies, registration of voters, preparation of electoral rolls, counting of votes and so on. The fact that there is no forum to agitate an election result does not make the election unfair, he argued.

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Rumble In Gujarat
Former Gujarat chief minister and vice president of the Old Congress committee Hiten Desai announced that he was joining the Congress after a meeting with Indira Gandhi. A few other senior Congress(O) leaders also resigned. Desai asked his Congress(O) colleagues and others to strengthen the hands of the prime minister and the Congress.