Which was the lengthiest amendment to the Constitution of India?

Asked 10-Mar-2018
Viewed 694 times

1 Answer


0

The 42nd Amendment was the lengthiest amendment in the Constitution of India. Officially it is known as ‘The Constitution Act, 1976’. This amendment was initiated during the time of Emergency in India by the Congress Government, which was headed by Indira Gandhi at that time. The 42nd Amendment was one of the most controversial Constitutional amendment in the Indian History. The changes made under this amendment were very much in number and sometimes it is referred to as the ‘Mini-Constitution’ or the ‘Constitution of Indira’.

Which was the lengthiest amendment to the Constitution of India?
All these amendments were introduced by ‘H.R. Gokhale’. Whereas, the Bill was passed in Lok Sabha on November 2, 1976, and in Rajya Sabha on November 11, 1976. The bill came into effect on January 3, 1977, but partially. Other amendments came into action from February 1, 1977, and Section 27 came into action on April 1, 1977. All these amendments by the government were the huge attempt taken by the government to reduce the power of the High Court and the Supreme Court. It also compromised with the Fundamental Duties of Indian Citizens for the Nation. In this amendment, some new articles and sections were also introduced.
By this amendment, the whole power has been fallen into the Prime Minister’s Office. As well as, gave an enormous amount of power to the Parliament to amend any part of the Constitution without any interference from the Indian Judiciary System. The Central Government was liberated with more power as compared to State Government by this Amendment in the Constitution. The Preamble of India was also got amended under the 42nd Amendment, which changed the description of India from “Sovereign Democratic Republic” to a “Sovereign, Socialist, Secular Democratic Republic”. It also changed the word of Preamble from “Unity of the Nation” to “Unity and Integrity of the Nation”.