BJP MP Moves Private Member's Bill To Amend Preamble Of The Indian Constitution In Rajya Sabha

Former minister of state for Tourism KJ Alphons introduced a private member's bill in the Rajya Sabha to amend the preamble of the Indian Constitution.

The BJP MP from Rajasthan moved the motion to introduce the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 seeks to replace the word “socialist” with “equitable”, among other changes. Alphons has argued that the term “socialist” has “political connotations and carries a historical baggage which is not acceptable to a large section of India”.

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The bill further sought to change the descriptions for equality and fraternity by enlarging its ambit and introducing “happiness, assuring a high gross domestic happiness” in the Preamble.

But when Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Narayan Singh allowed the introduction of the Bill, it was met with protest by the opposition.

RJD MP Manoj Jha and MDMK's Vaiko led the protest against the bill by the former IAS officer saying such draft legislation requires the prior assent of the President of India.

The Deputy Chairman, however, said such a bill does not require the permission of the President.

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Opposing it, Jha said the bill is about the amendment in the preamble, which is part the basic structure of the Constitution.

"Preamble is part of the basic structure of the Constitution. Please do not do this," said Jha.

"Amendment to preamble is an attack on the edifice of the Constitution. Are we allowing this house to ransack everything?" he said.

As Jha continued to maintain that such a bill requires the permission of the President, the Deputy Chairperson said it does not.

"This bill does not require the assent of the President, I am making it clear to you. This is on the House to decide and not me," he said.

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Seeing a logjam, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan suggested the chair to reserve its decision and give a decision later.

"I suggest the Chair to reserve this and give a ruling on a later date," he said.

Consenting to this, Deputy Chairman said, "If this is the opinion of the House, then we reserve it."

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What is a private member's bill?

A private member's bill is a piece of legislation proposed by a parliamentarian in his or her personal capacity and has nothing to do with the party he or she belongs to.?

Whether the Private Member's Bill has to be admitted or not is decided by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

Though hundreds of such private member's bills have been introduced in the Parliament, till now only 14 such legislations have been passed, the last one in 1970.

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