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Lecture on "Constitutional experience of India" by Justice P. N. Bhagwati

One of the chief judicial architects of Indian constitutional development, Justice, P. N. Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India would be speaking to a Sri Lankan Audience on the "Constitutional experience of India" on Sunday, January 12, at 4 p.m. in Committee Rm. C, of the BMICH, Colombo.

In contrast to Sri Lanka, the Indian Constitution was debated by a Constitutional Assembly for three long years, from December 1946 to December 1949. The Constitution making process was consensual and inclusive and was based on the twin principle of "Accommodation and Consensus". While ensuring the plurality of the Indian polity, the Indian Constitution provides a strong Centre to safeguard the unity and integrity of India.

The Indian Constitution has stood the test of time for over 50 years and challenges posed by over one billion people of diverse ethnic, political, linguistic and religious hues. As the Principal Custodian of the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court of India has played a historical role in safeguarding the basic principles of liberty, equality and fraternity, enshrined in the Preamble to the Indian Constitution.

The Indian Supreme Court developed the Basic Structure Doctrine which placed basic features of the Constitution relating to Fundamental Rights, Independence of the Judiciary, Rule of Law, Sovereignty of the State and Democracy beyond the amending powers of the Legislature.

This Constitutional Oration is organized by the Legal Aid Foundation of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Chapter of the Eminent Persons Consultative Group (EPCG) on Migratory and Refugee Movements in South Asia, sponsored by the UNHCR, Geneva, January 3.

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