RS Chair vows action amid Constitution illustrations row

Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Tuesday that the Constitution signed by its framers with 22 miniatures in the first calligraphed copy together with amendments by Parliament is the only authentic version that needs to be promulgated across the country, and any violation should be taken seriously and dealt with sternly.

- Smriti Kak Ramachandran

NEW DELHI:

He said this in the Upper House after BJP MP Radha Mohan Das Agrawal raised the issue of 22 illustrations missing in most copies of the Constitution sold in the country now. He demanded inclusion of the original illustrations, which he alleged were removed "unconstitutionally".

"I have no doubt, and I am categorical, the Constitution signed by the founding fathers of the Constitution, carrying 22 miniatures is the only authentic one and it can include amendments by Parliament. If there is any change effected by judiciary or any institution, it is not acceptable to this House," Dhankhar said.

Shortly after the Chair's directive, copies of the Constitution available to MPs on their tablets were updated to include the illustrations.