Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights

The Constitution assembly, when met for the first time on December 9, 1946, the idea of a dedicated Chapter on Fundamental Rights was not opposed by any member. After adopting the ‘Objectives Resolution’, moved by Nehru, the Constituent Assembly appointed an advisory committee under Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on January 24, 1947. This advisory committee dealt with the rights of citizens, minorities, tribal and excluded areas. Patel presented the committee’s recommendations on political safeguards for minorities sans separate electorates on August 27. The recommendations were accepted in the Assembly the following day.
We should note here that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the spirit behind some of the landmark provisions of Indian principles such as Fundamental Rights, the position of the Prime Minister, the Election Procedure of the President and the Status of Kashmir.