Sardar Swaran Singh Committee (1976) on Fundamental Duties
Q. Which of the following is/are true?
1) Japanese constitution is the only democratic constitution in world which contains a list of duties of citizens.
2) Swaran Singh Committee suggested duty to pay taxes as a fundamental duty.- Published on 21 Feb 17a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: Both 1 and 2
- Duties of the State are incorporated in the Constitution in the form of Directive Principles of State Polity.
- In 1976, the fundamental duties of citizens were added in the Constitution.
- The Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution are inspired by the Constitution of erstwhile USSR.
- However, none of the Constitutions of major democratic countries specifically contain a list of duties of citizens.
- Japanese Constitution is the only democratic Constitution in world which contains a list of duties of citizens.
- The socialist countries, gave equal importance to the fundamental rights and duties of their citizens.
Swaran Singh Committee Recommendations -
1. In 1976, the Congress Party set up the Sardar Swaran Singh Committee to make recommendations about fundamental duties.
2. Its necessity was felt during the operation of the internal emergency (1975–1977).
3. The Congress Government at Centre accepted its recommendations and enacted the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976.
4. This amendment added a new part, Part IVA to the Constitution.
5. This new part consists of only one Article, that is, Article 51A.
6. Swaran Singh Committee suggested the incorporation of 8 Fundamental Duties in the Constitution but the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976) included 10 Fundamental Duties.
7. Certain recommendations of the Committee were not accepted.
These include :
(i) The Parliament may provide for the imposition of penalty or punishment for not observing any of the duties.
(ii) No law imposing such punishment can be questioned in any court on the ground of infringement of any of Fundamental Rights or on the ground of repugnancy to any other provision of the Constitution.
(iii) Duty to pay taxes.
