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1. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, a sukta of one of our ancient Veda - Riga Veda, means "The Whole World is One Family". It is the code of life that is embedded in our heart beat, in our breath, in birth, in death, in our food, in love, in the experience of life and all that it contains. It is always and has always been true. People in our country have long cherished values which, in modern times, are best expressed under the rubric of universalism and various dimensions of democracy. Before the colonial intervention of the west and the rulers of the foreign original the participatory mode of governance from the grass roots to the top, devolution of political power at all levels, and cultural plurality were hallmarks of our social-political system. We had our own failings such as the obnoxious practice of untouchability, Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of Nation, called such persons as "Harijan" - son of God. The communitarian principles manifested through the caste system degenerated into hierarchical fundamentalism leading to a wide gap between the members of the society. For a section of the society all material resources and posts/offices were available in plenty. For others who were not so fortunate even one square meal was not available. These persons remained backward and were cut off from the main stream of the nation's life. After our country got independence from foreign rule, the founding fathers of our Constitution in the true spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam like any parent who take special care for any child who by birth or by other natural circumstances or otherwise is not equal to other children, were concerned for the upliftment of socially backward classes identified as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and that is why special provisions for those people were made in the matter of membership of State Legislature and Parliament for a specified period and also in the matter of public employment. After a passage of four decades, when the necessity was felt for making provisions for local self-government both at the village panchayat level and urban municipality, while amending the Constitution, specific provision was made providing for reservation for specified categories of persons which by now not only meant Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes but also women and persons belonging to other socially backward classes both for the membership as also for the Chairpersons. We are reminded of the well known principle enunciated by the famous scientist Newton - "To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction and action-reaction forces act on the different bodies", commonly known as Newton's Third Law of Motion, not only applies to the field of science but has universal application in our life also. Here the reaction is by way of challenge regarding the constitutional validity of the provisions in the Constitution enabling the State Legislature to make laws for providing reservation for the office of Chairpersons in municipalities for persons belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women and other socially Backward classes. Whether it is within the framework of the Constitution and is permissible or not, is the question on which thought provoking arguments have been advanced in the present two writ petitions.

1. Hamdard Dawakhana and Anr. v. The Union of India and Ors. ;
2. Jalan Trading Co. Pvt. Ltd. v. Mill Mazdoor Sabha ;
3. New Manek Chowk Spg. and Wvg. Mills Co. Ltd. v. Municipal Corporation of the City of Ahmedabad and Ors. ;
4. Devi Das Gopal Krishnan v. State of Punjab and Ors. ;
5. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi v. Birla Cotton, Spinning and Weaving Mills, Delhi and Anr. ; and
6. Krishna Mohan (P) Ltd. v. Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Ors. .

16. Sri Devi Shanker Shukla, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the Union of India, submitted that Part IX-A has been inserted in the Constitution of India by the Constitution Amendment Act. The aims and objects of inserting the said part was for strengthening the urban local bodies as it had conic to the notice of the Government of India that in many States urban local bodies had become weak and ineffective for various reasons including failure to hold regular elections, prolonged suppression and inadequate devolution of powers and functions with the result that the urban local bodies were unable to perform effectively as a vibrant democratic unit of local self-government. Having regard to these inadequacies, it was considered necessary that the provisions relating to the urban local bodies be incorporated in the Constitution itself, partly for putting on a firmer footing, the relationship between the State Government and the urban local bodies with respect to the functions and taxing powers, area for revenue sharing, ensuring regular conduct of elections, ensuring timely elections in case of supersession and providing adequate representation for the weaker sections, like, the Scheduled Caste, the Scheduled Tribe and the women. According to him, the Constitution can be amended by the Parliament in exercise of its power under Article 368. Relying upon Clause (4) of Article 368 of the Constitution of India, he submitted that the provisions of Article 13 has no application to any amendment made in the Constitution itself and, therefore, the Constitution Amendment Act cannot be challenged for violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Part III.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS In many States local bodies have become weak and ineffective on account of a variety of reasons, including the failure to hold regular elections, prolonged supersessions and inadequate devolution of powers and functions. As a result, Urban Local Bodies are not able to perform effectively as vibrant democratic units of self-government.
2. Having regard to these inadequacies, it is considered necessary that provisions relating to Urban Local Bodies are incorporated in the Constitution particularly for-
(g) devolution by the State Legislature of powers and responsibilities upon the Municipalities with respect to preparation of plans for economic development and social justice, and for the implementation of development schemes as may be required to enable them to function as institutions of self-government;
(h) levy of taxes and duties by Municipalities, assigning of such taxes and duties to Municipalities by State Governments and for making grants-in-aid by the State to the Municipalities as may be provided in the State law;