Shahabuddin's Letter to Soli Sorabjee, 15 February, 2000


 

Your reaction highlighted in the press today that rights not expressly mentioned in the Constitution but declared to be fundamental rights by the Supreme Court may be considered by the Constitution Review Commission for addition. The rights you have mentioned are unexceptionable.

However, as you must be aware the Review has awakened apprehensions in the religious minorities that in the process of review, certain existing minority rights may be curtailed or eroded, such as those relating to educational and cultural rights (Article 29 and 30) and religious freedom (Article 25 and 26). Muslims are also apprehensive that review may be used to transfer introduction of Uniform Civil Code from the Chapter on Directive Principles to Fundamental Rights.

I wonder whether the Commission shall be inviting suggestions from the public or holding public hearings. It would be a good idea, if it worked on the line of a Select Committee of the Parliament.





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