Balanced Constitutionalism: Courts and Legislatures in India and the United Kingdom

340 Pages·2017·1.554 MB·English

by  Chintan Chandrachud

Balanced Constitutionalism
Praise for B alanced Constitutionalism
How can a court with the power to strike down legislation be less power-
ful than one with only the power to declare legislation unconstitutional?
Through a careful and detailed analysis of Great Britain and India, Chintan
Chandrachud offers a surprising answer. What legislatures do interacts with
courts’ willingness to say what they really think, and legislative responses
are affected by a complex institutional and political environment. By show-
ing how complex the institution of constitutional review is in real-world
practice, Chandrachud makes an important contribution to constitutional
theory.
Mark Tushnet
This monograph is a profound work of comparative public law. It describes
the different techniques adopted by the courts in India and in the UK to
secure rights compliant interpretations of statutes that might be thought to
infringe fundamental rights. Out of this emerges an intriguing conundrum.
The Indian courts have formally greater powers than the UK courts have
in similar circumstances. But in fact, as Dr Chandrachud shows, it is the
UK courts that are more successful in securing rights compliant interpreta-
tions of statutes. This demonstration requires the mastery of the two legal
systems involved but the author is well up to the task. He writes with clarity
and great insight into the actual operation of both legal systems. This book
will be of great value to any reader seeking a deep understanding of funda-
mental rights protection in either of these legal systems.
Christopher Forsyth
Dr Chandrachud has explored the working of the two models of judicial
control over legislation. In an incisive analysis of the working of Indian
power of judicial review and British experience with the model of dec-
laration of incompatibility, he fi nds that the UK courts have, with their
model, found it easier to express their interpretation of rights than the
Indian courts. The book is a must read not only for students of comparative
law and constitutional law, but also for students of political science, for it
deconstructs the political dynamics of these two powerful institutions and
the comparative effects of two different models on these dynamics.
Harish Salve
Balanced Constitutionalism
Courts and Legislatures in India and the
United Kingdom

CHINTAN CHANDRACHUD
1
1
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Tables and Figures
Table
2.1 Effect of Doctrine of Eclipse or Specifi c Savings Clause
on the Validity of Legislation Struck Down 38
Figures
3.1 Speed of Political Responses to Strike-downs in India 116
3.2 Speed of Political Responses to Declarations of
Incompatibility in the UK 118
3.3 Comparison of Speed of Political Responses in
India and the UK 120
5.1 Delay between Enactment and Entry into Force
of Legislation 200
Table of Legislation (Including
Constitutions and Constitutional
Amendments
India
Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of
Undertakings) Act 1969 ........................................................... 4 3 , 250
Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of
Undertakings) Act 1970 .................................................................... 4 3
Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950 ............................................................. 2 48
Bombay Police Act, 1951 ....................................................................... 1 3
Chhattisgarh Auxiliary Armed Police Force Act, 2011 .......................... 6 3
Chhattisgarh Auxiliary Armed Police Force Ordinance, 2011 .............. 6 3
Civil Procedure Code, 1908 .................................................................. x lv
Code of Criminal Procedure (UP Amendment) Act, 1976 ............... 1 65
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 .............................................. x lv , 230
Constitution of India, 1949 .............................................................. x xxix
Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951 ................ 3 4 , 41 , 50–1 , 104 ,
246–7 , 249
Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Act, 1955 ................. 3 4 , 42 , 51 , 251
Constitution (Seventeenth Amendment) Act, 1964 .......... 3 2 , 34 , 42–3 ,
52 , 251
Constitution (Twenty-fi fth Amendment) Act, 1971 ..................... 3 4 , 43 ,
106 , 251
Constitution (Twenty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1972 ............. 5 1–2 , 253
Constitution (Thirty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1974 ................... 5 1 , 253
Constitution (Fortieth Amendment) Act, 1976 ................................... 5 1
xii Table of Legislation
Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act ...................................... 3 3
Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978 ............................ 4 2
Constitution (Forty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1984 .......................... 5 0
Constitution (Sixty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1990 ........... 5 0–1 , 53 , 106 ,
253
Constitution (Seventy-sixth Amendment) Act, 1994 ................... 4 9 , 107
Constitution (Seventy-seventh Amendment) Act, 1995 .................... 1 07
Constitution (Eighty-fi rst Amendment) Act, 2000 ............................ 1 07
Constitution (Eighty-second Amendment) Act, 2000 ....................... 1 07
Constitution (Eighty-fi fth Amendment) Act, 2001 ............................ 1 07
Constitution (Ninety-third Amendment) Act, 2005 ............................ 5 6
Constitution (Ninety-sixth Amendment) Act, 2011 ............................. 3 3
Constitution (Ninety-ninth Amendment) Act, 2014 ........................... 2 0
CP & Berar Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 1947 ........................... 3 5
Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 .............................................. 1 62
Delhi Professional Colleges or Institutions (Prohibition of
Capitation Fee, Regulation of Admission, Fixation of Non-
exploitative Fee and Other Measures to Ensure Equity and
Excellence) Act, 2007 ........................................................................ 5 6
East Punjab Public Safety Act, 1949 .................................................... 2 46
Essential Commodities Act, 1955 ......................................................... 5 0
European Communities Act, 1972 ........................................... x xxi , xxxiv
Gudalur Janmam Estates (Abolition and Conversion
into Ryotwari) Act, 1969 ................................................... 5 1 , 104 , 252
Indian Evidence Act, 1872 ............................................................ 2 29–30
I ndian Penal Code, 1860 ............................................................ 1 52 , 248
Indian Press (Emergency Powers) Act, 1931 ........................ 4 0 , 105 , 248
Kerala Agrarian Relations Act, 1961 ...................................... 4 2 , 117 , 250
Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1969 .................................... 5 2
Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963 .............................................. 4 3 , 52 , 252
Levy Sugar Price Equalisation Fund Act, 1976 ..................................... 5 0
Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 .......................................................... 1 9
Madras Maintenance of Public Order Act, 1949 ......................... 4 0 , 246
National Food Security Act, 2013 .......................................................... 1 9
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 ................ 1 61–2
Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 ............................................... 2 23
Protection of Human Rights Ordinance, 1993 .................................. 2 23
Representation of the People Act, 1951 ....................................... x xxi , 60
Table of Legislation xiii
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 ........ 1 9
Right to Information Act, 2005 ........................................................... 1 39
Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of
Property) Act, 1976 ........................................................................... 5 0
Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation
of Street ............................................................................................ 1 86
Supreme Court Rules, 1966 ........................................................... 6 3 , 141
Terrorist Affected Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1984 ........................... 1 65
Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1985 ................ 1 65
Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention)
Act, 1987 ................................................................................. 1 65 , 233
West Bengal Central Valuation Board (Amendment)
Act, 1994 .......................................................................................... 1 36
West Bengal Central Valuation Board Act, 1978 ................................ 1 36
West Bengal Land Development and Planning Act, 1948 ............... 4 1–2
West Bengal Land Holding Revenue Act, 1979 ........................... 5 3 , 252
United Kingdom
Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act, 2001 .................... 6 8 , 100 , 170 ,
220 , 268
Acquisition of Land Act, 1981 ............................................................. 2 54
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.)
Act, 2004 ................................................................................. 2 04 , 270
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.)
Act, 2004 (Remedial) Order, 2011 .................................................. 2 04
Bill of Rights Act, 1689 ........................................................................ xxxi
Care Standards Act, 2000 ........................................................ 7 2 , 89 , 274
Constitutional Reform Act, 2005 ..................................................... xxxvii
Consumer Credit Act, 1974 ................................................................. 2 56
Country Planning Act, 1990 ................................................................ 2 54
Criminal Justice Act, 1991 ................................... 7 0 , 204 , 262 , 276 , 280
Criminal Justice Act, 2003 .......................................... 1 35 , 218 , 260 , 262
Criminal Justice and Immigration Act, 2008 ..................................... 2 76
Crime (Sentences) Act, 1997 ............................................................... 2 60
Crown Proceedings Act, 1947 ............................................................. 2 60
European Communities Act, 1972 ........................................... x xxi , xxxiv
Finance Act, 1999 ................................................................................. 2 64
xiv Table of Legislation
Gender Recognition Act, 2004 ........................................... 1 99 , 220 , 264
Highways, Act ....................................................................................... 2 54
Housing Act, 1996 ............................................................... 1 02 , 202 , 270
Housing and Regeneration Act, 2008 ................................................. 2 70
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, 1990 ................ 2 18–19 , 262
Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Deceased
Fathers) Act, 2003 ............................................................................ 2 62
Human Rights Act, 1998 .................................................... x xix , 190 , 238
Human Rights Act 1998 (Designated Derogation)
Order, 2001 ...................................................................................... 1 71
Immigration and Asylum Act, 1999 ......................................... 6 8–9 , 258
Income and Corporation Taxes Act, 1988 .......................................... 2 64
Magna Carta, 1297 ............................................................................... xxxi
Matrimonial Causes Act, 1973 ............................ 7 6 , 156 , 158 , 160 , 264
Mental Health Act, 1983 ........................ 7 1–2 , 78 , 117 , 119 , 193 , 195–6 ,
199 , 256 , 262 , 264 , 268
Mental Health Act, 1983 (Remedial) Order, 2001 ..................... 7 2 , 193
Mental Health Act, 2007 ..................................................... 1 96 , 199 , 264
Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act, 2002 ........................ 6 9 , 258
Offences against the Person Act, 1861 ................................................ 2 58
Parliament Act, 1911 .............................................................................. 1 8
Parliament Acts, 1949 ............................................................................ 1 8
Police Act, 1997 ............................................................................. 6 9 , 282
Police Act 1997 (Criminal Record Certifi cates: Relevant
Matters) (Amendment) (England and Wales)
Order, 2013 ................................................................................. 8 3 , 86
Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2005 ......................... 6 9 , 79 , 100 , 173 , 268
Protection of Freedoms Act, 2012 .............................................. 1 99 , 282
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, 1974 (Exceptions) Order
1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order, 2013 ............... 2 84
Representation of People Act, 1983 ...................................................... 9 3
Representation of the People Act, 1832 .............................................. xxxi
Representation of the People Act, 1867 .............................................. xxxi
Representation of the People Act, 1884 .............................................. xxxi
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act, 2006 ................................. 8 9 , 282
Scotland Act, 1998 ............................................................................... 1 78
Sexual Offences Act, 2003 ............................................. 7 0 , 1 44 , 242 , 258
Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Remedial) Order, 2012 .............................. 8 6