As many of us are aware, one of the contentious political issues in some parts of India (e.g, Assam) at the moment is that of citizenship. This article explains the basic elements of India’s territory, division of states and laws on citizenship.
In the previous issue, we learnt that the constitutional values are nothing but human values which are both cherished principles and spiritual norms. The Constitution of India (CoI), especially the Preamble, enumerated certain values for the life of citizens as well as for the governance of the country. Now we shall focus our attention on the territory of India and her citizens as enshrined in Part I and Part II of CoI. Territory and citizenship issues may become the bone of contention and take away peace and harmony in the country.
INDIA & HER TERRITORY
Part I of the CoI (Art 1 – 4) describes the territory India. The first article names the country as India, that is Bharat, and states that it is a union of states and (union) territories. At present, under this article, 29 states and 7 union territories are listed in the First Schedule. The Parliament by law admits into the Union or forms a new state by separation or uniting two or more states or parts thereof or from the territory of any state. Being an indestructible union of destructible states, it can also increase or diminish the area of any state by alteration of the boundaries as well as the names of the states.
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Fr Ravi Sagar SJ
