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THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
395 Articles, organised into 25 Parts and 12 Schedules, make up the Constitution of India

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Home ≫ Committees ≫ Sub-Committee I (Appointed by the Provincial Constitution Committee)

Constitution Making
Committees

Sub-Committee I (Appointed by the Provincial Constitution Committee)

This sub-committee was appointed by the Provincial Constitution Committee to discuss the matter of a special electoral college for the election of the Governor, and the rights and privileges of members of Provincial Legislatures.

Members

B.G. Kher, Kailash Nath Katju, P. Subbarayan

Meeting Dates

June 10, 1947

Background

The Union Constitution Committee and the Provincial Constitution Committee had previously decided, in a joint meeting held on 7 June 1947, that a Governor appointed by the Province and elected by a special electoral college would head each Province. On June 9, Sub-Committee I was appointed to discuss this matter and determine what special privileges should be granted to members of Provincial Legislatures.

Work Summary

Sub-Committee I, appointed by the Provincial Constitution Committee, convened on 10 June 1947 for approximately one hour to discuss the composition of the electoral college responsible for electing the Governor. The committee determined that the electoral college members would be elected during general elections based on the ratio of one elector for every 10,000 adults, and their tenure would extend until the next general election. Any election disputes would be resolved by the Supreme Court.

Additionally, the committee granted members of Provincial Legislatures the same privileges as those afforded to members of Parliament, as specified in the official memorandum on the Union Constitution.

The Constituent Assembly endorsed the principle of an elected Governor when presented with the report of the Provincial Constitution Committee in July 1947. However, two years later, the decision was revised in favor of a Governor nominated by the Union government. Jawaharlal Nehru argued in the Constituent Assembly that this would prevent friction within Provincial Governments and reduce separatist tendencies.

Resources

The Framing of India’s Constitution 1966, Vol. 2 by Shiva Rao
The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation by Granville Austin