Page 115 - Constitution
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70 Years of Indian
Constitution
and Kashmir to Kanyakumari. This was the law Manu concludes his dharma śāstra with
code of Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam the statement that, “one should see
and other South East Asian countries and also in oneself in all and all in his own” all lives
Buddhist countries these codes have their impact are equal and equality of all living being
as dasa pāramita. In China, Japan, Korea, Central was the main theme of his dharma
Asia and all the west Asian countries attested by
epigraphy, numismatics and manuscript records. and their function.
We may examine one solid example of native Regarding eligibility to stand for election,
democratic institution which is decidedly 1000 three main criteria were prescribed:
years old and it’s a remarkable constitution. 1. The candidate must be above 35 years and
A village, named Uttaramerur, about 50 KM below 70 years of age. The lower limit of 35,
away from Chennai has a historic inscription, certain maturity and experience in life was
dated around 920 CE. Though well known to considered essential for public function and no
historians it has not reached the public eye yet. school or college boy can be entrusted. Similarly,
It was constituted as a new village in the 8th the upper limit is prescribed as old age has a
century as per vāstu texts with a hall that marked tiresome stage and he or she should leave it to
the centre of the village. It was built on a stone younger and dynamic person to work hard.
base with the superstructure built was of brick 2. The second criteria under this head was he should
and mortar. This was called the village hall “Ūrul be a resident of the village legally by owning some
mandapam”. All secular transaction like assembly property, which means he must have acquired
meetings, administration etc were conducted partnership legally to stand for election.
here. The village was administered by members, 3. The third clause is the candidate must have
elected to the Administration assembly. In the certain basic qualification, especially legal
beginning of 10th century (920 CE), a constitution knowledge, as he will have to enact laws for
was debated, approved clause by clause and the public administration.
same was written on the stone base of the hall. It 4. The fourth clause, was only one candidate from
deals with four or five major sections, like eligibility a family can stand for one election. This was
of the candidate for standing for election, the to prevent the power and public finance going
qualification, disqualification, process of election into the hands of a single family. This clause
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