Nehru Report

 Nehru Report 1928

On February 12, 1928, All Parties Conference called at Delhi attended by the representatives of 29 organizations in response to the appointment of Simon Commission and challenge given by Lord Birkenhead secretary of state for India. 

It was presided over by M.A Ansari. On May 19, 1928 at its meeting at Bombay, the All Parties Conference appointed a committee with Motilal Nehru as its chairman. 

The purpose was to consider and determine the principles of the Constitution for India.

It remains memorable as the first major Indian effort to draft a constitutional frame work for whole India with lists of central and provincial subjects and Fundamental Rights 

The recommendations evoked a debate concerning the goal of India-Dominion status of Complete Independence 

Other members of committee- Tej Bahadur Sapru, Ali Imam, MS Aney, Mangal Singh, Sohaib Qureshi, GR Pradhan and SC Bose 

Outcome of the Nehru Report 

• It demanded responsible government both at the center and in the provinces. But it advocated dominion status not complete independence 
• It demanded Universal Suffrage 
• It rejected separate communal electorate 
• It proposed Muslim reservation in the centre and provinces where they were in minority 
• The report recommended equal rights for women, freedom to form unions and disassociation of the state form religion in any form 
• It demanded for reorganization of the North-West provinces on linguistic basis

Jinnah’s 14 points 1929

Jinnah, the leader of Muslim League did not accept the Nehru Report and drew up a list of fourteen demands which became famous as 14 points of Jinnah 

14 points 

1. The form of the future constitution should be federal, with the residuary powers vested in the provinces.
2. A uniform measure of autonomy shall be guaranteed to all provinces.
3. All legislatures in the country and other elected bodies shall be constituted on the definite principle of adequate and effective representation of minorities in every province without reducing the majority in any province to a minority or even equality.
4. In the Central Legislature, Muslim representation shall not be less than one third.
5. Representation of communal groups shall continue to be by separate electorates: provided that it shall be open to any community, at any time, to abandon its separate electorate in favor of joint electorate.
6. Any territorial redistribution that might at any time be necessary shall not in any way affect the Muslim majority in Punjab, Bengal and NWFP provinces.
7. Full religious liberty shall be guaranteed to all communities.
8. No bill or resolution shall be passed in any legislature if three fourths of the members of any community in that body oppose the bill.
9. Sindh should be separated from the Bombay Presidency.
10. Reforms should be introduced in the NWFP and Balochistan on the same footings as in the other provinces.
11. Muslims should be given an adequate share in all services, having due regard to the requirement of efficiency.
12. The Constitution should embody adequate safeguards for the protection of Muslim culture, education, language, religion and personal laws, as well as for Muslim charitable institutions.
13. One-third representation shall be given to Muslims in both central and provincial cabinets.
14. No change shall be made in the constitution without the consent of the provinces.