Criticism of the Constituent Assembly as unrepresentative
Topic: Making of the Constitution: Constituent Assembly, Sources and Salient Features · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 10 "The Philosophy of the Constitution"
Meaning
This criticism says the Constituent Assembly did not truly speak for the people of India. The people did not elect it directly. Provincial assemblies, which were themselves chosen on a narrow, limited franchise, elected its members. The princely states' members were nominated by their rulers. The Muslim League boycotted it, and Congress dominated it. Granville Austin wrote: "The Assembly was the Congress, and the Congress was India." NCERT's answer is that the Assembly lacked the people's voice, meaning votes, but represented a wide range of opinion, meaning views.
Example
The Assembly included members of all religions, 28 Scheduled Caste members and 15 women. Congress itself held "almost all shades of opinion", and members argued from principle. Universal adult franchise passed almost without debate. The first general election of 1951–52 confirmed the Constitution in practice, and Dalits came to see it as their own.
Don't confuse with
- Lack of a referendum: this is a related but separate point. India held no public vote to approve the Constitution, unlike Ireland in 1937. The people adopted it by obeying it.