THE CONSTITUTION (TWENTY-SIXTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 1971


    Statement of Objects and Reasons appended to the Constitution
       (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Bill, 1971 which was enacted as
         THE CONSTITUTION (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971

                   STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The  concept  of rulership, with privy purses and  special  privileges
unrelated   to  any  current  functions   and   social   purposes,   is
incompatible  with  an  egalitarian social  order.    Government  have,
therefore, decided to terminate the privy purses and privileges of the
Rulers  of  former Indian States.  It is necessary for  this   purpose,
apart  from  amending the relevant provisions of the Constitution,  to
insert  a  new  article  therein  so as  to  terminate   expressly  the
recognition already granted to such Rulers and to abolish privy purses
and  extinguish all rights, liabilities and obligations in respect  of
privy purses.  Hence this Bill.



NEW DELHI;                                          INDIRA GANDHI.

The 31st July, 1971.




THE CONSTITUTION (TWENTY-SIXTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 1971


                                        [28th December, 1971.]


An Act further to amend the Constitution of India.

BE  it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-second Year of the Republic
of India as follows:---

1.  Short title.-This Act may be called the Constitution (Twenty-sixty
Amendment) Act, 1971.

2.   Omission  of  articles 291 and 362.-Articles 291 and 362  of  the
Constitution shall be omitted.

3.    Insertion  of  new   article   363A.-After  article  363  of  the
Constitution, the following article shall be inserted, namely:---

"363A.   Recognition  granted to Rulers of Indian States to cease  and
privy  purses  to  be  abolished.- Notwithstanding  anything   in  this
Constitution or in any law for the time being in force-

(a)  The  Prince,  Chief or other person who, at any time  before  the
commencement  of THE CONSTITUTION (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act,  1971,
was recognised by the President as the Ruler of an Indian State or any
person  who,  at any time before such commencement, was recognised  by
the  President as the successor of such Ruler shall, on and from  such
commencement, cease to be recognised as such Ruler or the successor of
such Ruler;

(b)  on  and from the commencement of the   Constitution  (Twenty-sixth
Amendment)  Act,  1971,  privy  purse is  abolished  and   all  rights,
liabilities and obligations in respect of privy purse are extinguished
and  accordingly  the Ruler or, as the case may be, the  successor  of
such Ruler, referred to in clause (a) or any other person shall not be
paid any sum as privy purse.".

4.   Amendment of article 366.-In article 366 of the Constitution, for
clause (22), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:-

`(22) "Ruler" means the Prince, Chief or other person who, at any time
before  the commencement of THE CONSTITUTION (Twenty-sixth  Amendment)
Act,  1971, was recognised by the President as the Ruler of an  Indian
State  or  any person who, at any time before such  commencement,  was
recognised by the President as the successor of such Ruler;'.