Under  article 297 of the Constitution, all lands, minerals and  other
things  of value underlying the ocean within the territorial waters or
the  continental  shelf of India vest in the Union to be held for  the
purposes  of the Union.  India has sovereign rights over the resources
of   the  exclusive  economic  zone   and  is   entitled  to   exercise
jurisdiction  in respect of certain other matters.  It is proposed  to
amend article 297 of the Constitution so as to provide that all lands,
minerals  and  other things of value underlying the ocean  within  the
exclusive  economic  zone  of  India and all other  resources   of  the
exclusive  economic zone of India shall also vest in the Union and  be
held  for  the  purposes  of the Union.  At  present,   the  limits  of
territorial  waters  and  the  continental  shelf  are   determined  by
Proclamation  issued by the President.  It is proposed that the limits
of  the  territorial  waters,  the continental  shelf,  the   exclusive
economic  zone  and the maritime zones of India shall be as  specified
from time to time by or under law made by Parliament.

2.  Recourse was had in the past to the Ninth Schedule whenever it was
found  that  progressive legislation conceived in the interest of  the
public  was  imperilled  by litigation.   Certain  State   legislations
relating  to  land reforms and ceiling on agricultural  land  holdings
have  already been included in the Ninth Schedule.  Certain amendments
made  to these legislations also require protection of the  provisions
of  article  31B inasmuch as in many cases such enactments  have  been
challenged in courts and courts have granted interim reliefs which has
hampered the implementation of the national land reform policy.

3.   Besides  these  Acts   relating  to  land  reforms  certain  State
enactments  relating to private forests require protection of  article
31B  as  these  enactments are progressive and  beneficial   pieces  of
legislation  intended  to  and the monopoly of  vested  interests   and
forest contractors.  Some of such legislations have been challenged in
courts  and  as  the courts have granted interim reliefs  staying   the
operation  of  these enactments, the State Governments have  not  been
able to implement these legislations.

4.   Certain  Central  laws like the Smugglers  and  Foreign  Exchange
Manipulators  (Forfeiture  of  Property)  Act, 1976,  the   Urban  Land
(Ceiling  and  Regulation) Act, 1976, the Essential  Commodities  Act,
1955  and  certain provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939  require
protection  of  article 31B.  If these legislations are allowed to  be
challenged  in  courts of law thereby delaying the  implementation  of
these  laws,  the  vary  purpose  of  enacting  these   laws  would  be
frustrated  and the national economy may be severely affected.   These
and  other  important  and special enactments which it  is   considered
necessary should have the constitutional protection are proposed to be
included in the Ninth Schedule.

5. The Bill seeks to give effect to the above objects.

NEW DELHI;                                          H. R. GOKHALE.

The 18th May, 1976.

   THE CONSTITUTION (FORTIETH AMENDMENT) ACT, 1976

                                                [27th May, 1976.]

An Act further to amend the Constitution of India.

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

1.   Short  title.-This Act may be called the  Constitution  (Fortieth
Amendment) Act, 1976.

2.   Substitution  of new article for article 297.-For article 297  of
the Constitution, the following article shall be substituted, namely:-

"297.   Things of value within territorial waters or continental shelf
and  resources  of the exclusive economic zone to vest in the  Union.-
(1) All lands, minerals and other things of value underlying the ocean
within  the  territorial  waters,  or the continental  shelf,   or  the
exclusive  economic zone, of India shall vest in the Union and be held
for the purposes of the Union.

(2)  All other resources of the exclusive economic zone of India shall
also vest in the Union and be held for the purposes of the Union.

(3)  The limits of the territorial waters, the continental shelf,  the
exclusive  economic zone, and other maritime zones, of India shall  be
such  as may be specified, from time to time, by or under any law made
by Parliament.".

3.   Amendment  of  the Ninth Schedule.-In the Ninth Schedule  to  the
Constitution,  after  entry  124  and   before  the   Explanation,  the
following entries shall be inserted, namely:-

"125.   Section  66A and Chapter IVA of the Motor Vehicles  Act,  1939
(Central Act 4 of 1939).

126.  The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (Central Act 10 of 1955).

127.   The Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture  of
Property) Act, 1976 (Central Act 13 of 1976).

128.   The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 (Central Act  19
of 1976).

129.  The Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling
Activities (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Central Act 20 of 1976).

130.   The Prevention of Publication of Objectionable Matter Act, 1976
(Central Act 27 of 1976).

131.  The Levy Sugar Price Equalisation Fund Act, 1976 (Central Act 31
of 1976).

132.   The Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 (Central  Act
33 of 1976).

133.    The  Departmentalisation   of   Union  Accounts  (Transfer   of
Personnel) Act, 1976 (Central Act 59 of 1976).

134.   The Assam Fixation of Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1956 (Assam
Act I of 1957).

135.  The Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands (Vidarbha Region) Act,
1958 (Bombay Act XCIX of 1958).

136.  The Gujarat Private Forests (Acquisition) Act, 1972 (Gujarat Act
14 of 1973).

137.   The  Haryana  Ceiling on Land Holdings  (Amendment)  Act,  1976
(Haryana Act 17 of 1976).

138.   The  Himachal  Pradesh   Tenancy  and  Land  Reforms  Act,  1972
(Himachal Pradesh Act 8 of 1974).

139.    The  Himachal  Pradesh   Village   Common  Lands  Vesting   and
Utilisation Act, 1974 (Himachal Pradesh Act 18 of 1974).

140.   The Karnataka Land Reforms (Second Amendment and  Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act, 1974 (Karnataka Act 31 of 1974).

141.   The  Karnataka  Land   Reforms   (Second  Amendment)  Act,  1976
(Karnataka Act 27 of 1976).

142.   The  Kerala Prevention of Eviction Act, 1966 (Kerala Act 12  of
1966).

143.   The Thiruppuvaram Payment (Abolition) Act, 1969 (Kerala Act  19
of 1969).

144.   The Sreepadam Lands Enfranchisement Act, 1969 (Kerala Act 20 of
1969).

145.   The  Sree Pandaravaka Lands (Vesting and Enfranchisement)  Act,
1971 (Kerala Act 20 of 1971).

146.   The  Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act,  1971
(Kerala Act 26 of 1971).

147.   The  Kerala  Agricultural Workers Act, 1974 (Kerala Act  18  of
1974).

148.   The Kerala Cashew Factories (Acquisition) Act, 1974 (Kerala Act
29 of 1974).

149.  The Kerala Chitties Act, 1975 (Kerala Act 23 of 1975).

150.   The  Kerala Scheduled Tribes (Restriction on Transfer of  Lands
and Restoration of Alienated Lands) Act, 1975 (Kerala Act 31 of 1975).

151.   The Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Kerala Act 15 of
1976).

152.  The Kanam Tenancy Abolition Act, 1976 (Kerala Act 16 of 1976).

153.   The Madhya Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings (Amendment)
Act, 1974 (Madhya Pradesh Act 20 of 1974).

154.   The Madhya Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings (Amendment)
Act, 1975 (Madhya Pradesh Act 2 of 1976).

155.    The  West  Khandesh    Mehwassi  Estates  (Proprietary   Rights
Abolition, etc.) Regulation, 1961 (Maharashtra Regulation (1 of 1962).

156.   The  Maharashtra Restoration of Lands to Scheduled Tribes  Act,
1974 (Maharashtra Act XIV of 1975).

157.   The  Maharashtra  Agricultural Lands (Lowering  of  Ceiling  on
Holdings) and (Amendment) Act, 1972 (Maharashtra Act XXI of 1975).

158.    The  Maharashtra  Private    Forests  (Acquisition)  Act,  1975
(Maharashtra Act XXIX of 1975).

159.   The  Maharashtra  Agricultural Lands (Lowering  of  Ceiling  on
Holdings)  and (Amendment) Amendment Act, 1975 (Maharashtra Act  XLVII
of 1975).

160.   The  Maharashtra  Agricultural    Lands  (Ceiling  on  Holdings)
(Amendment) Act, 1975 (Maharashtra Act II of 1976).

161.  The Orissa Estates Abolition Act, 1951 (Orissa Act I of 1952).

162.   The  Rajasthan Colonisation Act, 1954 (Rajasthan Act  XXVII  of
1954).

163.   The  Rajasthan  Land Reforms and  Acquisition  of  Land-owners'
Estates Act, 1963 (Rajasthan Act 11 of 1964).

164.   The  Rajasthan Imposition of Ceiling on  Agricultural  Holdings
(Amendment) Act, 1976 (Rajasthan Act 8 of 1976).

165.  The Rajasthan Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1976 (Rajasthan Act 12 of
1976).

166.   The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Reduction of Ceiling on Land) Act,
1970 (Tamil Nadu Act 17 of 1970).

167.   The  Tamil  Nadu  Land Reforms (Fixation of  Ceiling  on  Land)
Amendment Act, 1971 (Tamil Nadu Act 41 of 1971).

168.   The  Tamil  Nadu  Land Reforms (Fixation of  Ceiling  on  Land)
Amendment Act, 1972 (Tamil Nadu Act 10 of 1972).

169.  The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Second
Amendment Act, 1972 (Tamil Nadu Act 20 of 1972).

170.   The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Third
Amendment Act, 1972 (Tamil Nadu Act 37 of 1972).

171.  The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Fourth
Amendment Act, 1972 (Tamil Nadu Act 39 of 1972).

172.   The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Sixth
Amendment Act, 1972 (Tamil Nadu Act 7 of 1974).

173.   The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Fifth
Amendment Act, 1972 (Tamil Nadu Act 10 of 1974).

174.   The  Tamil  Nadu  Land Reforms (Fixation of  Ceiling  on  Land)
Amendment Act, 1974 (Tamil Nadu Act 15 of 1974).

175.   The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Third
Amendment Act, 1974 (Tamil Nadu Act 30 of 1974).

176.  The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Second
Amendment Act, 1974 (Tamil Nadu Act 32 of 1974).

177.   The  Tamil  Nadu  Land Reforms (Fixation of  Ceiling  on  Land)
Amendment Act, 1975 (Tamil Nadu Act 11 of 1975).

178.  The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Second
Amendment Act, 1975 (Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 1975).

179.   Amendments  made to the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari  Abolition  and
Land  Reforms  Act,  1950 (Uttar Pradesh Act I of 1951) by  the   Uttar
Pradesh Land Laws (Amendment) Act, 1971 (Uttar Pradesh Act 21 of 1971)
and  the Uttar Pradesh Land Laws (Amendment) Act, 1974 (Uttar  Pradesh
Act 34 of 1974).

180.   The  Uttar  Pradesh   Imposition of  Ceiling  on  Land  Holdings
(Amendment) Act, 1976 (Uttar Pradesh Act 20 of 1976).

181.   The West Bengal Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Act, 1972 (West
Bengal Act XXVIII of 1972).

182.   The  West Bengal Restoration of Alienated Land Act, 1973  (West
Bengal Act XXIII of 1973).

183.   The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1974 (West Bengal
Act XXXIII of 1974).

184.   The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act 1975 (West  Bengal
Act XXIII of 1975).

185.   The West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1976 (West Bengal
Act XII of 1976).

186.   The Delhi Land Holdings (Ceiling) Amendment Act, 1976  (Central
Act 15 of 1976).

187.   The Goa, Daman and Diu Mundkars (Protection from Eviction) Act,
1975 (Goa, Daman and Diu Act 1 of 1976).

188.   The Pondicherry Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Act,
1973 (Pondicherry Act 9 of 1974).".