Regarding Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar as a key drafting member of the Constitution of India, which of the following statements correctly describe his views on the Supreme Court and governance?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: He favoured an important role for the Supreme Court in deciding issues of constitutional interpretation and in drawing the line between liberty and social control.

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question examines knowledge about the views of Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, one of the eminent members of the Constituent Assembly and a key figure in drafting the Constitution of India. It focuses on how he viewed the role of the Supreme Court and the balance between liberty, social control, and the executive.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar was a prominent lawyer and a member of the Drafting Committee.
  • The statements in the options relate to the role of the Supreme Court, liberty versus social control, and the nature of governance.
  • We need to choose the statement that correctly reflects his position as known from Constituent Assembly debates and commentaries.


Concept / Approach:
The approach is to recall that many framers, including Ayyar, supported a strong and independent Supreme Court that could interpret the Constitution and protect fundamental rights. At the same time, they recognised that the Court would have to balance individual liberty with social control in a democratic welfare state. Ayyar did not advocate executive dominance or dictatorial governance.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that option A combines two correct ideas. It highlights Ayyar's support for a strong Supreme Court in interpretation and emphasises the Court's role in drawing the line between liberty and social control.Step 2: Option B wrongly adds that he believed in executive dominance over the judiciary, which contradicts the basic thinking of most drafting members.Step 3: Option C is clearly incorrect because it describes dictatorial governance and executive dominance, which are contrary to the democratic spirit of the Constitution.Step 4: Option D is wrong because Ayyar did not oppose a strong Supreme Court; he supported an active judicial role rather than leaving constitutional interpretation only to Parliament.


Verification / Alternative check:
Reading discussions on the framing of the judicial review provisions, including Articles related to the Supreme Court, confirms that Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar defended the need for an independent court capable of limiting both legislature and executive when they exceeded constitutional boundaries. This supports option A.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong since it mixes correct support for the Supreme Court with the incorrect claim of executive dominance.
Option C is wrong because dictatorial or executive dominated governance was not his stance; the Constitution aimed at democratic rule under law.
Option D is wrong because he did not want to weaken the Supreme Court or remove its power to interpret the Constitution.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes assume that any strong support for social control implies favouring executive dominance. However, the framers wanted the Supreme Court to be the neutral arbiter balancing liberty and social needs. Confusing this balanced view with dictatorial governance can easily lead to choosing the wrong option.


Final Answer:
The correct description is that Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar favoured an important role for the Supreme Court in constitutional interpretation and in drawing the line between liberty and social control.

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