THE CONSTITUTION (FIFTY-EIGHTH AMENDMENT) ACT,
1987
Statement of Objects and Reasons
appended to the Constitution
(Fifty-sixth Amendment) Bill, 1987 which was enacted
as
THE CONSTITUTION (Fifty-eighth Amendment)
Act, 1987
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
The Constitution of India was adopted by the
Constituent Assembly in
English. A Hindi translation of the Constitution, signed
by the
members of the Constituent Assembly, was also published in 1950 under
the authority of the President of the
Constituent Assembly in
accordance with a resolution adopted by that Assembly.
2. There has been a
general demand for the publication of an
authoritative text of the Constitution in Hindi incorporating therein
all the subsequent amendments. It is also imperative to
have an
authoritative text of the Constitution for facilitating its use in the
legal process. Any Hindi version of the Constitution should not only
conform to the Hindi translation published by
the Constituent
Assembly, but should also be in conformity with the language, style
and terminology adopted in the authoritative texts of Central Acts in
Hindi. It is, therefore, proposed to amend the Constitution so as to
empower the President of India to publish under his authority
the
translation of the Constitution in Hindi signed by the members of the
Constituent Assembly with such modifications as may be necessary to
bring it in conformity with the language, style and
terminology
adopted in the authoritative texts of Central Acts in
the Hindi
language. The President would also be authorised to
publish the
translation in Hindi of every amendment of the Constitution made in
English.
3. The Bill seeks to achieve the aforesaid objects.
NEW DELHI;
BUTA SINGH.
The 17th February, 1987.
THE CONSTITUTION (FIFTY-EIGHTH AMENDMENT)
ACT, 1987
[9th December, 1987.]
An Act further to amend the Constitution of India.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the
Thirty-eighth Year of the Republic
of India as follows:-
1. Short title.-This
Act may be called the Constitution
(Fifty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1987.
2. Amendment of the
heading of Part XXII.-In Part XXII of the
Constitution, in the heading, after the word,
"COMMENCEMENT", the
words ", AUTHORITATIVE TEXT IN HINDI" shall be inserted.
3. Insertion of new
article 394A.-After article 394 of the
Constitution, the following article shall be inserted, namely:-
"394A. Authoritative text in the
Hindi language.- (1) The President
shall cause to be published under his authority,-
(a) the translation of this Constitution in the Hindi
language, signed
by the members of the Constituent Assembly, with such modifications as
may be necessary to bring it in conformity with the language, style
and terminology adopted in the authoritative texts of Central Acts in
the Hindi language, and incorporating therein all the amendments of
this Constitution made before such publication; and
(b) the translation in the Hindi language of
every amendment of this
Constitution made in the English language.
(2) The translation of this
Constitution and of every amendment
thereof published under clause (1) shall be construed to have the same
meaning as the original thereof and if any difficulty arises in so
construing any part of such translation, the President shall cause the
same to be revised suitably.
(3) The translation of this
Constitution and of every amendment
thereof published under this article shall be deemed to be, for all
purposes, the authoritative text thereof in the Hindi language.".