Constitutent Assembly of India

The Constituent Assembly of India was constituted in accordance with the recommendations of the Cabinet Mission. It was elected by the provincial assemblies in July 1946.The members of this assembly were indirectly elected by the direct representatives of the people on the basis of direct franchise.

It had 389 memebers including 93 representatives of Indian princely states.

The first session of the Assembly was held in New Delhi on December 2, 1946. Altogether 207 members took part in this meeting.
Sachchidanand Sinha was elected temporary chairman in the beginning of the session. However, Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected its permanent chairman on December 11, 1946.

On December 13, 1946, Jawahar Lal Nehru moved a resolution on December 13, which stated the objectives of the Constituent Assembly. It was passed on January 22, 1947.

It said that India was to be an independent sovereign republic in which both British India and the princely states were to be included. People were to be guaranteed freedom of economic and political justice, and equality of status and opportunity before law. They were also to be guaranteed freedom of thought, vocation, association, expression, belief, faith, worship, and action subject to law and morality. Adequate safeguards was to be provided to the minorities, backward and tribal population.

With the enactment of the Indian Independence Act 1947, the Constituent Assembly became sovereign and became free from the limitations laid down be the Cabinet Mission.

The Constituent Assembly then appointed Lord Louis Mountbatten as first Governor General and Jawahar Lal Nehru as first Prime Minister of independent India.

It framed the Constitution of India which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, which came into force on January 26, 1950.

FIRST DAY IN THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

The Constituent Assembly met for the first time in New Delhi on 9 December, 1946 in the Constitution Hall which is now known as the Central Hall of Parliament House. Decorated elegantly for the occasion, the Chamber wore a new look on that day with a constellation of bright lamps hanging from the high ceilings and also from the brackets on its walls.

Overwhelmed and jubilant as they were, the hon'ble members sat in semi-circular rows facing the Presidential dias. The desks which could be warmed electrically were placed on sloping green-carpeted terraces. Those who adorned the front row were Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Acharya J.B. Kripalani, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Smt. Sarojini Naidu, Shri Hare-Krushna Mahatab, Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Shri Sarat Chandra Bose, Shri C. Rajagopalachari and Shri M. Asaf Ali. Two hundred and seven representatives, including nine women were present.

The inaugural session began at 11 a.m. with the introduction of Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the temporary Chairman of the Assembly, by Acharya Kripalani. While welcoming Dr. Sinha and others, Acharyaji said: "As we begin every work with Divine blessings, we request Dr. Sinha to invoke these blessings so that our work may proceed smoothly. Now, I once more, on your behalf, call upon Dr. Sinha to take the Chair."

Occupying the Chair amidst acclamation, Dr. Sinha read out the goodwill messages received from different countries. After the Chairman's inaugural address and the nomination of a Deputy Chairman, the members were formally requested to present their credentials. The First Day's proceedings ended after all the 207 members present submitted their credentials and signed the Register.
Seated in the galleries, some thirty feet above the floor of the Chamber, the representatives of the Press and the visitors witnessed this memorable event. The All India Radio, Delhi broadcast a composite sound picture of the entire proceedings.

SOME IMPORTANT FACTS

The Constituent Assembly took almost three years (two years, eleven months and seventeen days to be precise) to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India. During this period, it held eleven sessions covering a total of 165 days. Of these, 114 days were spent on the consideration of the Draft Constitution.

As to its composition, members were chosen by indirect election by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies, according to the scheme recommended by the Cabinet Mission. The arrangement was: (i) 292 members were elected through the Provincial Legislative Assemblies; (ii) 93 members represented the Indian Princely States; and (iii) 4 members represented the Chief Commissioners' Provinces. The total membership of the Assembly thus was to be 389. However, as a result of the partition under the Mountbatten Plan of 3 June, 1947, a separate Constituent Assembly was set up for Pakistan and representatives of some Provinces ceased to be members of the Assembly. As a result, the membership of the Assembly was reduced to 299.
On 13 December, 1946, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution

1.This Constituent Assembly declares its firm and solemn resolve to proclaim India as an Independent Soverign Republic and to draw up for her future governance a Constitution;

2.WHEREIN the territories that now comprise British India, the territories that now form the Indian States, and such other parts fo India as are outside British India and the States as well as such other territories as are willing to be constituted into the Independent Soverign India, shall be a Union of them all; and

3.WHEREIN the said territories, whether with their present boundaries or with such others as may be determined by the Constituent Assembly and thereafter according to the law of the Constitution, shall possess and retain the status of autonomous Units, together with residuary powers and exercise all powers and functions of goverrnment and administration, save and except such powers and functions as are vested in or assigned to the Union, or as are inherent or implied in the Union or resulting therefrom; and

4.WHEREIN all power and authority of the Soverign Independent India, its constituent parts and organs of government, are derived from the people; and

5.WHEREIN shall be guaranteed and secured to all the people of India justice, social economic and political : equality of status, of opportunity, and before the law; freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship, vocation, association and action, subject to law and public morality; and

6.WHEREIN adequate safeguards shall be provided for minorities, backward and tribal areas, and depressed and other backward classes; and

7.WHEREBY shall be maintained the integrity of the territory of the Republic and its soverign rights on land, sea, and air according to justice and the law of civilized nations; and

8.this ancient land attains its righful and honoured placed in the world and make its full and willing contribution to the promotion of world peace and the welfare of mankind.

This Resolution was unanimously adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 January 1947.
Late in the evening of 14 August, 1947 the Assembly met in the Constitution Hall and at the stroke of midnight, took over as the Legislative Assembly of an Independent India.

On 29 August, 1947, the Constituent Assembly set up a Drafting Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to prepare a Draft Constitution for India. While deliberating upon the draft Constitution, the Assembly moved, discussed and disposed of as many as 2,473 amendments out of a total of 7,635 tabled.

The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November, 1949 and the hon'ble members appended their signatures to it on 24 January, 1950. In all, 284 members actually signed the Constitution. On that day when the Constitution was being signed, it was drizzling outside and it was interpreted as a sign of a good omen.

The Constitution of India came into force on 2 6 January, 1950. On that day, the Assembly ceased to exist, transforming itself into the Provisional Parliament of India until a new Parliament was constituted in1952

Sessions of the Constituent Assembly
First Session: 9-23 December, 1946
Second Session: 20-25 January, 1947
Third Session: 28 April - 2 May, 1947
Fourth Session: 14-31 July, 1947
Fifth Session: 14-30 August, 1947
Sixth Session: 27 January, 1948
Seventh Session: 4 November,1948 - 8 January, 1949
Eighth Session: 16 May - 16 June, 1949
Ninth Session: 30 July - 18 September, 1949
Tenth Session: 6-17 October, 1949
Eleventh Session: 14-26 November, 1949

(The Assembly met once again on 24 January, 1950, when the members appended their signatures to the Constitution of India)

IMPORTANT COMMITTEES OF
THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY AND THEIR CHAIRMEN

Name of the Committee - Chairman
Committee on the Rules of Procedure - Rajendra Prasad
Steering Committee - Rajendra Prasad
Finance and Staff Committee - Rajendra Prasad
Credential Committee - Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
House Committee - B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya
Order of Business Committee - K.M. Munsi
Ad hoc Committee on the National Flag - Rajendra Prasad
Committee on the Functions of the Constituent Assembly - G.V. Mavalankar
States Committee - Jawaharlal Nehru
Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas - Vallabhbhai Patel
Minorities Sub-Committee - H.C. Mookherjee
Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee - J.B. Kripalani
North-East Frontier Tribal Areas and Assam Exluded & Partially Excluded Areas Sub-Committee - Gopinath Bardoloi
Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas (Other than those in Assam) Sub-Committee - A.V. Thakkar
Union Powers Committee - Jawaharlal Nehru
Union Constitution Committee - Jawaharlal Nehru
Drafting Committee - B.R. Ambedkar


STATEWISE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CONSTITUENT

ASSEMBLY OF INDIA AS ON 31 DECEMBER, 1947

PROVINCES-229

S.No. State No. of Members

1. Madras 49

2. Bombay 21

3. West Bengal 19

4. United Provinces 55

5. East Punjab 12

6. Bihar 36

7. C.P. and Berar 17

8. Assam 8

9. Orissa 9

10. Delhi 1

11. Ajmer-Merwara 1

12. Coorg 1


INDIAN STATES-70


1. Alwar 1

2. Baroda 3

3. Bhopal 1

4. Bikaner 1

5. Cochin 1

6. Gwalior 4

7. Indore 1

8. Jaipur 3

9. Jodhpur 2

10. Kolhapur 1

11. Kotah 1

12. Mayurbhanj 1

13. Mysore 7

14. Patiala 2

15. Rewa 2

16. Travancore 6

17. Udaipur 2

18. Sikkim and Cooch Behar Group 1

19. Tripura, Manipur and Khasi
States Group 1

20. U.P. States Group 1

21. Eastern Rajputana States Group 3

22. Central India States Group 3
(including Bundelkhand and Malwa)

23. Western India States Group 4

24. Gujarat States Group 2

25. Deccan and Madras States Group 2

26. Punjab States Group I 3

27. Eastern States Group I 4

28. Eastern States Group II 3

29. Residuary States Group 4

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Total 299

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LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY
(AS IN NOVEMBER, 1949)

MADRAS

O.V. Alagesan
Mrs. Ammu Swaminadhan
M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar
Moturi Satyanarayana
Mrs. Dakshayani Velayudhan
Mrs. G. Durgabai
Kala Venkatarao
N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar
D. Govinda Das
Rev. Jerome D'suuza
P. Kakkan
K. Kamaraj
V.C. Kesava Rao
T.T. Krishnamachari
Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
L. Krishnaswami Bharathi
P. Kunhiraman
M. Thirumula Rao
V.I. Muniswamy Pillay
M.A. Muthiah Chettiyar
V. Nadimuthu Pillai
S. Nagappa
P.L. Narasimha Raju
B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya
C. Perumalswamy Reddy
T. Prakasam
S.H. Prater
Raja Swetachalapati Ramakrishna Renga Roa of Bobbili
R.K. Shanmukham Chetti
T.A. Ramalingam Chettiyyar
Ramanath Goenka
O.P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar
N.G. Ranga
N. Sanjeeva Reddi
K. Santhanam
B. Shiva Rao
Kallur Subba Rao
U. Srinivasa Mallayya
P. Subbarayan
C. Subramaniam
V. Subramaniam
M.C. Veerabahu
P.M. Velayudapani
A.K. Menon
T.J.M. Wilson
Mohamed Ismail Sahib
K.T.M. Ahmed Ibrahim
Mahboob Ali Baig Sahib Bahadur
B. Pocker Sahib Bahadur

BOMBAY

Balchandra Maheshwar Gupte
Mrs. Hansa Mehta
Hari Vinayak Pataskar
B.R. Ambedkar
Joseph Alban D'Souza
Kanayalal Nanabhai Desai
Keshavrao Marutirao Jedhe
Khandubhai Kasanji Desai
Bal Gangadhar Kher
M.R. Masani
K.M. Munshi
Narhar Vishnu Gadgil
S. Nijalingappa
S.K. Patil
Ramchandra Manohar Nalavade
R.R. Diwakar
Shankarrao Deo
G.V. Mavalankar
Vallabhbhai J. Patel
Abdul Kadar Mohammad Shaikh
A.A. Khan

WEST BENGAL

Monomohan Dass
Arun Chandra Guha
Lakshmi Kanta Maitra
Mihir Lal Chattopadhyay
Satis Chandra Samanta
Suresh Chandra Majumdar
Upendranath Barman
Prabhudayal Himatsingka
Basanta Kumar Das
Mrs. Renuka Ray
H.C. Mookherjee
Surendra Mohan Ghose
Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Ari Bahadur Gurung
R.E. Platel
K.C. Neogy
Raghib Ahsan
Jasimuddin Ahmad
Naziruddin Ahmad
Abdul Hamid
Abdul Halim Ghuznavi

UNITED PROVINCES

Ajit Prasad Jain
Algu Rai Shastri
Balkrishna Sharma
Banshi Dhar Misra
Bhagwan Din
Damodar Swarup Seth
Dayal Das Bhagat
Dharam Prakash
A. Dharam Dass
R. V. Dhulekar
Feroz Ganhdi
Gopal Narain
Krishna Chandra Sharma
Govind Ballabh Pant
Govind Malaviya
Har Govind Pant
Harihar Nath Shastri
Hriday Nath Kunzru
Jaspat Roy Kapoor
Jagannath Baksh Singh
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jogendra Singh
Jugal Kishore
Jwala Prasad Srivastava
B.V. Keskar
Mrs. Kamala Chaudhri
Kamalapati Tiwari
J.B. Kripalani
Mahavir Tyagi
Khurshed Lal
Masurya Din
Mohan Lal Saksena
Padampat Singhania
Phool Singh
Paragi lal
Mrs. Purnima Banerji
Prurshottamadas Tandon
Hira Vallabha Tripathi
Ram Chandra Gupta
Shibban Lal Saxena
Satish Chandra
John Matthai
Mrs. Sucheta Kripalani
Sunder Lall
Venkatesh Narayan Tivary
Mohanlal Gautam
Vishwambhar Dayal Tripathi
Begum Aizaz Rasul
Hyder Hussain
Hasrat Mohani
Abul Kalam Azad
Muhammad Ismail Khan
Rafi Ahmad Kidwai
Mohd. Hifzur Rahman

EAST PUNJAB

Bakshi Tek Chand
Jairamdas Daulatram
Thakurdas Bhargava
Bikramlal Sondhi
Yashwant Rai
Ranbir Singh
Achint Ram
Nand Lal
Sardar Baldev Singh
Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir
Sardar Hukam Singh
Sardar Bhopinder Singh Mann

BIHAR

Amiyo Kumar Ghosh
Anugrahnarayan Sinha
Banarsi Prasad Jhunjhunwala
Bhagwat Prasad
Boniface Lakra
Brajeshwar Prasad
Chandika Ram
K.T. Shah
Devendra Nath Samanta
Dip Narain Sinha
Guptanath Singh
Jadubans Sahay
Jagat Narain Lal
Jagjivan Ram
Jaipal Singh
Kameshwara Singh of Darbhanga
Kamaleshwari Prasad Yadav
Mahesh Prasad Sinha
Krishna Ballabh Sahay
Raghunandan Prasad
Rajendra Prasad
Rameshwar Prasad Sinha
Ramnarayan Singh
Sachchidananda Sinha
Sarangdhar Sinha
Satyanarayan Sinha
Binodanand Jha
P.K. Sen
Sri Krishna Sinha
Sri Narayan Mahtha
Syamanandan Sahaya
Hussain Imam
Saiyid Jafar Imam
Latifur Rahman
Mohammad Tahir
Tajamul Hussain

CENTRAL PROVINCES & BERAR

Raghu Vira
Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
B.A. Mandloi
Brijlal Nandlal Biyani
Thakur Cheedilal
Seth Govind Das
Hari Singh Gour
Hari Vishnu Kamath
Hemchandra Jagobaji Khandekar
Ghanshyam Singh Gupta
Lakshman Shrawan Bhatkar
Panjabrao Shamrao Deshmukh
Ravi Shankar Shukla
R.K. Sidhva
Shankar Tryambak Dharmadhikari
Frank Anthony
Kazi Syed Karimuddin

ASSAM

Nibaran Chandra Laskar
Dharanidhar Basu-Matari
Gopinath Bardoloi
J.J.M. NIchols-Roy
Kuladhar Chaliha
Rohini Kumar Chaudhury
Muhammad Saadulla
Abdur Rouf

ORISSA

B.Das
Biswanath Das
Krishna Chandra Gajapati Narayana Deo of Parlakimedi
Harekrushna Mahatab
Lakshminarayan Sahu
Lokanath Misra
Nandkishore Das
Rajkrishna Bose
Santanu Kumar Das

DELHI

Deshbhandhu Gupta

AJMER-MERWARA

Mukut Bihari Lal Bhargava

COORG

C.M. Poonacha

MYSORE

K. Chengalaraya Reddy
T. Siddalingaiya
H.R. Guruv Reddy
S.V. Krishnamurthy Rao
K. Hanumanthaiya
H. Siddaveerappa
T. Channiah

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah
Motiram Baigra
Mirza Mohmmad Afzal Beg
Maulana Mohammad Sayeed Masoodi

TRAVANCORE-COCHIN

A. Thanu Pillai
R. Sankar
P.S. Nataraja Pillai
Mrs. Annie Mascarene
K.A. Mohamed
P.T. Chacko
P. Govinda Menon

MADHYA BHARAT

V.S. Sarwate
Brijraj Narain
Gopikrishna Vijayavargiya
Ram Sahai
Kusum Kant Jain
Radhavallabh Vijayavargiya
Sitaram S. Jajoo

SAURASHTRA

Balwant Rai Gopalji Mehta
Jaisukhlal Hathi
Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar
Chimanlal Chakubhai Shah
Samaldas Laxmidas Gandhi

RAJASTHAN

V.T. Krishnamachari
Hiralal Shastri
Sardar Singhjhi of Khetri
Jaswant Singhji
Raj Bhadur
Manikya Lal Varma
Gokul Lal Asava
Ramchandra Upadhyaya
Balwant Sinha Mehta
Dalel Singh
Jainarain Vyas

PATIALA AND EAST PUNJAB STATES UNION

Ranjit Singh
Sochet Singh
Bhagwant Roy

BOMBAY STATES

Vinayakrao Balshankar Vaidya
B.N. Munavalli
Gokulbhai Daulatram Bhatt
Jivraj Narayan Mehta
Gopaldas A. Desai
Paranlal Thakurlal Munshi
B.H. Khardekar
Ratnappa Bharamappa Kumbhar

ORISSA STATES

Lal Mohan Pati
N. Madhava Rau
Raj Kunwar
Sarangadhar Das
Yudhishthir Misra

CENTRAL PROVINCES STATES

R.L. Malaviya
Kishorimohan Tripathi
Ramprasad Potai

UNITED PROVINCES STATES

B.H. Zaidi
Krishna Singh

MADRAS STATES

V. Ramaiah

VINDHYA PRADESH

Avdesh Pratap Singh
Shambu Nath Shukla
Ram Sahai Tiwari
Mannulalji Dwidedi

COOCH BEHAR

Himmat Singh K. Maheshwari

TRIPURA AND MANIPUR

Girja Shankar Guha

BHOPAL

Lal Singh

KUTCH

Bhawani Arjun Khimji

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Y.S. Parmar

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