- JUSTICE - Social, Economic and Political;
- LIBERTY - of Thought, Expression, Belief, Faith and Worship;
- EQUALITY - of Status and Opportunity;
- FRATERNITY - assuring Dignity of the individual and Unity and Integrity of the nation.
Our Constitution boasts of several salient features. It:
- Is the most lengthy and detailed in the world
- Incorporates experiences of all known Constitutions of world democracies at the time; and avoids their defects
- Is a Constitution of States, not just the Union. It reconciles effectively our national unity and diversity with maintenance of autonomy of states
- Has a technically elaborate Chapter of Fundamental Rights (akin to the American "Bill of Rights"), which ensures dignity of the individual
- Makes detailed provisions for federal, i.e., Union and State, relations
- Takes vastness of country; diversity of populace and variety of problems into account
- Is flexible and provides for amendments
- Divides power at national and regional levels
- Reconciles 'supremacy of written Constitution' with 'Parliamentary sovereignty'
- Provides elaborate 'directive principles' - fundamental for governance of nation
- Has a chapter on fundamental duties of citizens (added later)
- Provides for an independent judiciary - it balances parliamentary supremacy with judicial review mechanisms
- Gives us a completely secular State
- Provides for adult franchise and non-communal electorates
So, stay tuned!
