Question

With reference to the making of Indian Constitution explain the following: (a) When and how were the members of the Constituent Assembly elected ?

Answer 1

Members were chosen by indirect election by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies, according to the scheme recommended by the Cabinet Mission. The arrangement was:

(i) 292 members were elected through the Provincial Legislative Assemblies.

(ii) 93 members represented the Indian Princely States.

(iii) 4 members represented the Chief Commissioners' Provinces.

The total membership of the Assembly thus was to be 389. However, as a result of the partition under the Mountbatten Plan of 3 June, 1947, a separate Constituent Assembly was set up for Pakistan and representatives of some Provinces ceased to be members of the Assembly.

As a result, the membership of the Assembly was reduced to 299.