DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY (DPSP)

DPSP Outside Part IV

  • Article 335: Claims of SC/ST in public services.
  • Article 350A: Provision for instruction in the mother tongue for linguistic minorities.
  • Article 351: Directive for the development of the Hindi language.

Fundamental Duties (FD)

  • Both FD and DPSP help courts in examining the constitutional validity of laws.
  • Fundamental Duties are enforceable by law (i.e., Parliament can enact laws to enforce them).

Amendment of the Constitution (Article 368)

  • Only two types of majority are mentioned in Article 368.
  • Simple majority amendments are not considered constitutional amendments under Article 368.

Process of Constitutional Amendment

  • Must be passed by a Special Majority:
    • 50% of the total membership of the House.
    • 2/3rd of the members present and voting.
  • However, amendments to clauses/schedules of a Constitution Amendment Bill (CAB) require only a Simple Majority, like ordinary bills.
  • Can be introduced in either House, by either a minister or a private member.
  • No prior sanction of the President is required.
  • 24th CAA (1971):
    • President must give assent to a constitutional amendment (cannot withhold or send for reconsideration).
  • 42nd CAA (1976):
    • Distinction between Union and State laws in terms of constitutional challenges:
      • HC cannot strike down Union laws.
      • SC cannot strike down State laws.
    • No judicial review of Constitutional Amendments (later overturned by the Minerva Mills case).

Types of Amendments

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