Political Will Vs. Constitutional Will

“The only stable State is the one in which all men are equal before the law.” - Aristotle

India is a Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic State. The founding fathers of our Constitution wanted rule of law to prevail and visualised that our country would march ahead and become an idealistic nation. Democracy and federalism are essential features of our Constitution and are part of its basic structure as held in S. R. Bommai and Others v. Union of India and Others. Democracy in subtle and simple terms means a system of Government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a State, typically through elected representatives. Hence, India, as a State is to be governed by elected representatives. In other words, it is the Will of the people that rules India and is supreme to none all.

Here a vital question emerges. Which is supreme – The Constitution or the Will of the People? Why one may ask so is because, the Will of the people sits at both the houses of Parliament and at the Legislative Assemblies in each State. Will of the people can enact new laws or amend existing laws so as to ensure that rule of law prevails. If we think a step further, Will of the people can amend the Constitution. Article 368 of the Constitution lays down the provision for amendment of the Constitution and nowhere is it stated that any Article in the Constitution is immune from amendment. If at any point of time, if the Will of the people decides that the ‘secular’ character is to be taken out of the Constitution, it can easily amend Article 25 and India, thus would no more be a Secular State. Thus the basic feature of our Constitution, which our forefathers envisaged, could collapse.

Here, the milestone judgment in His Holiness Kesavanantha Bharati v. State of Kerala, assumes much importance. A Bench of thirteen Judges (though not unanimously) held that basic structure of Constitution is immune from amendment. In short, the Will of the People, cannot alter the basic structure of our Constitution. The said judgment was a democratic victory of its people; the people of India. The spirit of freedom, the essence of democracy as envisioned by the founding fathers of our Constitution, was thus, meant to be preserved and protected. Was it because, our Supreme Court felt that if unbridled power is given to amend the Constitution, it would be a peril to the essence of freedom of its citizens? I feel so. Thus, it can be said that it was the Constitution, that was Supreme and the Will of the people was only second to it.

Role of the Supreme Court, as the Guardian of our Constitution assumed importance and ever since the judgment in Kesavantha Bharathis case, the struggle for power between the Parliament and the Judiciary began. It can, in a way be said that the seat of power started to shift from the Parliament to the Supreme Court.

In the famous book by T. R. Andhyarujina, titled ‘Kesavananda Bharati case - The untold story of struggle for supremacy by Supreme Court and Parliament’, the author states that “Though the case was cast as a legal issue on the Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution, it was culmination of struggle for supremacy between the Supreme Court and the Parliament.”

A doubt arises in one’s mind as to why Supreme Court held so. Is it because, too much faith cannot be reposed on the elected representatives or is it because, if the elected representatives are given unbridled freedom, they would misuse it? The answer is crystal clear.

Now, Supreme Court has become the seat of power and good governance. As ideologies in politics change, the interest of the people or the country is given least importance. Corruption and mal-administration takes its toll. Thus the Will of People, fails to act. Thus Supreme Court has no other choice, but to come forward and ensure that rule of law prevails.

Examples aplenty - we have the famous Vishaka case, in which Supreme Court laid down in categorical terms, the guidelines to be followed in cases of sexual harassment of women in workplace. Though the directions were laid down in 1997, it took more than 15 years for the Will of the People to enact a law, Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, to give justice to the victims of sexual harassment. Supreme Court has been issuing directions in many issues to ensure good governance. A few recent instances where the Supreme Court stepped in and happened to issue directions are in the matter curbing eve teasing, DIG v. Samuthiram for eradication of bonded labour, Public Union for Civil Liberties v. State of Tamil Nadu, for improving basic facilities in Schools, Environmental and Consumer Protection Foundation v. Delhi Administration, or in the matter of prevention of cruelty to animals, Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja, 2010 KHC 5068; in conservation and preservation of forests, T. N. Godavarman Thirumulpad case etc. could be cited as examples. Hence, when there is lack of proper governance, the Supreme Court interferes and fills up the lacuna. Thus Supreme Court delivers what the Will of people failed to deliver.

For the year 2013, the Will of the people (Legislative Assembly) in Kerala State met for hardly 40 days. An estimated amount of 67 crores is said to have been spent for the said purpose alone. The story at Centre is no different. What should be done to them for having squandered the promise they have given to us while they were elected to power? Should they not be held accountable for having failed to deliver? A time has come where Writ Courts start to monitor and ensure smooth functioning of the ‘Will of the people’ as in the case of monitoring of investigation like that of 2G scam cases by the Supreme Court. Let’s wait and watch.