Indian Constitution and Administration
Indian Constitution – Governments, Law, Justice & Constitutional Values
Levels of Government – Governance & Executive Heads
| Level | Governance Head (Elected) | Executive Head (Administrative) | Main Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village | Sarpanch / Ward Members / Gram Sabha | Panchayat Secretary | Village planning, welfare, sanitation, local records |
| Mandal / Block | Mandal Parishad President | Mandal Development Officer | Rural development programs and implementation |
| Municipality | Chairperson & Councillors | Municipal Commissioner | Urban services, drainage, roads, planning |
| Municipal Corporation | Mayor & Corporation Council | Municipal Commissioner | Large city administration and development |
| District | Zilla Parishad Chairperson | District Collector | District administration and departmental coordination |
| State | Legislative Assembly | Chief Minister & Council of Ministers | State law-making and governance |
| Central | Parliament | Prime Minister & Council of Ministers | National governance and law-making |
State and Central Secretary
| Level | Administrative Head | Police Head |
|---|---|---|
| State | Chief Secretary | Director General of Police (DGP) |
| Central | Cabinet Secretary | Home Secretary / Director, CBI |
Police Authorities
| Level | Police Role |
|---|---|
| Village / Local | Maintain peace, handle complaints, local patrolling |
| State |
Law and order Crime investigation Traffic management Public safety Disaster assistance |
| Central |
Internal security Terror investigations Inter-state crime handling Border protection (through CAPF forces) |
Governance decides | Executive executes | Police enforces
Village Executive Head = Panchayat Secretary
Judiciary Structure & Court Heads + Law Officers + Types of Laws
| Court Level | Head | Supervising Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Taluka / Mandal Court | Judicial Magistrate / Munsif | District Court |
| District Court | District Judge | High Court |
| High Court | Chief Justice (State) | Supreme Court |
| Supreme Court | Chief Justice of India | Apex Judicial Authority |
District Collector heads district administration, NOT judiciary.
Law Officers
| Post | Level | Role | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney General | Centre | Chief legal advisor to Union Govt | President of India |
| Solicitor General | Centre | Assists AG, represents Govt in courts | Central Government |
| Advocate General | State | Chief legal advisor to State Govt | Governor |
| Public Prosecutor | State | Conducts criminal cases for govt | State Government |
Civil Laws vs Criminal Laws
| Aspect | Civil Law | Criminal Law |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Disputes between individuals | Offence against society / state |
| Examples | Property disputes, divorce, contracts | Theft, murder, assault |
| Filed By | Individual persons | State / Government |
| Objective | Compensation or settlement | Punishment of offender |
Civil = Conflict | Criminal = Crime
Key Articles & Constitution Drafting Committees
Key Constitutional Articles
| Article | Subject | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 12–35 | Fundamental Rights | Protect citizens’ freedoms |
| 36–51 | Directive Principles | Guidelines for government policies |
| 51A | Fundamental Duties | Duties of citizens |
| 74 | Council of Ministers | President acts on advice of ministers |
| 76 | Attorney General | Chief legal officer of Union |
| 124 | Supreme Court | Establishment and powers |
| 165 | Advocate General | Chief legal officer of State |
| 246 | Union–State division of powers | Union, State & Concurrent Lists |
| 356 | President’s Rule | Central rule in State |
Important Committees of Constitution Framing
| Committee | Chairman | Main Function |
|---|---|---|
| Drafting Committee | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar | Prepared final Constitution draft |
| Union Powers Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru | Decided powers of Centre |
| Provincial Constitution Committee | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel | State structure and autonomy |
| Advisory Committee on Minorities | Sardar Patel | Safeguards for minorities |
| Fundamental Rights Committee | J.B. Kripalani | Drafted Fundamental Rights |
Ambedkar = Architect of Indian Constitution
Law and Social Justice + Bhopal Gas Tragedy (Expanded)
Law and Social Justice
- Ensures fairness, equality and protection of weaker sections.
- Controls misuse of power by industries and institutions.
- Protects workers, consumers and environment.
Bhopal Gas Tragedy – Case Study
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Year | 1984 |
| Place | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh |
| Gas Leaked | Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) |
| Impact | Thousands died, lakhs affected with long-term illnesses |
Consequences
- Revealed weak industrial safety enforcement.
- Exposed poor emergency response systems.
- Victims were mostly poor and living near industrial area.
What it Taught Us
- Industries must be located with safety distance from residential areas.
- Strict safety audits are essential.
- Government must monitor hazardous industries continuously.
- Emergency medical and disaster response must be prepared.
Actions Taken After Bhopal
| Action | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Environment Protection Act, 1986 | Umbrella law for environment protection |
| Hazardous Waste Rules | Control dangerous industrial waste |
| Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 | Immediate relief for industrial accident victims |
| Strengthening Pollution Control Boards | More inspection and monitoring powers |
Bhopal taught: Safety First – Lives First
Law without enforcement leads to disasters
State Governance vs Central Governance (Under President)
| Aspect | State Governance | Central Governance |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Head | Governor (Represents President) | President of India |
| Real Executive Head | Chief Minister | Prime Minister |
| Executive Body | State Council of Ministers | Union Council of Ministers |
| Administrative Head | Chief Secretary | Cabinet Secretary |
| Police Head | Director General of Police (DGP) | Home Secretary / Director CBI |
| Judicial Head | Chief Justice of High Court | Chief Justice of India |
| Law Officer | Advocate General | Attorney General of India |
| Authority Flow | President → Governor → State Government → People | President → Prime Minister → Union Government → People |
President is the common constitutional authority for both State and Central systems.
Governor is not independent — he acts as President’s representative in the State.