Lord Birkenhead the then secretary of state for India
challenged the Indian leaders to prepare and produce a constitution acceptable
to all political parties in India. The challenge was accepted by the congress.
Preliminary talks were held between the Hindu and Muslim
leaders for resolving outstanding regarding the future Indian Constitution. A
small committee consisting of nine members was formed under the chairmanship of
Pandit Motilal Nehru to draft a constitution for India. The constitution
acceptable to all its members. It was adopted by the all parties conference
held at Lucknow from 28 to 31 August 1928.
The main proposal of the draft constitution formed by the
Nehru Report included:
- It proposed dominion status for India.
- Responsible governments were to be introduced both at the center and the provinces.
- The government at the center was to be a federal one including those of the native states.
- The residuary powers were kept with the center.
- The parliament at the center would consist of two houses while the provincial legislatures would have single houses.
- A committee of defense was proposed at the centre.
- Joint electorates were proposed throughout India. However reservation of seats on the basis of population was proposed for the lower house at the centre in the case of Muslims.
- In the provinces no reservation of seats was kept in Punjab and Bengal.
- In the North west Fortier province seats were kept reserved for non Muslims while in the rest of the provinces seats were kept reserved for the Muslim on the basis of their population. All these reservations were allowed for a period of ten years.
- The fundamental rights were to be incorporated in the Constitution.
- In case the report was not accepted by the British government the Congress decided that it would launch a campaign of Non- cooperation in India.
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