Why is Law Day, celebrated as Constitution Day since 2015

The Constituent Assembly, was constituted in terms of a statement dated May 16 1946 by the Government of UK. Among the members of the Assembly were the Presidents of the Indian National Congress, the Depressed Classes League, the Muslim League, the All India Scheduled Castes Federation, the All India Women's Conference, the All India Landholders Association, the Hindu Maha Sabha, the Servants of India Society and the Anglo-Indian Association. There were also some Vice Chancellors, businessmen, working class representatives, journalists and authors. Notably, five ex-Presidents of the Indian National Congress were it's members. 

Out of the 296 members of the Assembly originally allotted to what were then known as the Governors' Provinces and Chief Commissioners' Provinces, 208 were elected on the Congress vote. The then Indian States, whose representatives joined the Assembly later, had been allotted 93 seats. Out of its strength of 208, as many as 30 were from outside the party. From the minorities, the Scheduled Castes accounted for 29; the Scheduled Tribes 4, the Indian Christians 6, the Anglo-Indians 3 and the Parsis 3, thereby ensuring liberal representation to all minorities. Out of the 4 seats allotted to the Sikhs, the Congress had 3.

In the Constituent Assembly, Jawaharlal Nehru, explained the philosophy behind the Constitution:

"A Constitution, if it is out of touch with the people's life, aims and aspirations it becomes rather empty; if it falls behind those aims, it drags the people down. It should be something ahead to keep people's eyes and minds upto a certain high mark".

The Constitution is a collective declaration of the determination of the people of a nation, to live in an orderly fashion for the common good and well-being of the whole nation. 

The Constitution of India was drafted at a cost of approximately 6 crore rupees, in 2 years, 11 months and 18 days was adopted on November 26, 1949. 

The Constituent Assembly of India, Government of India published a notification dated November 26, 1949 in The Gazette of India, Extraordinary. It reads:"The Constitution of India as passed by the Constituent Assembly has been authenticated by the President of the Assembly by affixing his signature thereto this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, and is hereby published for general information:--

THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly Preamble. resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the indivi- dual and the unity of the Nation;

IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION."

Part XXII of the Constitution which deals with the Short Title, Commencement and Repeals has three Articles. Under this part Article 393 reads:."This Constitution may be called the Constitution of India."

Article 394 reads: "This article and articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 60, 324, 366, 367, 379, 380, 388, 391, 392 and 393 shall come into force at once, and the remaining provisions of this Constitution shall come into force on the twenty- sixth day of January, 1950, which day is referred to in this Constitution as the commencement of this Constitution." Thus, 15 Articles of the Constitution of India came into force on November 26, , 1949. 

Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9: These articles relate to citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution.

Article 60: This article deals with the oath of office for the President.

Article 324: This article provides for the powers of the Election Commission of India to prepare the electoral roll and conduct elections.

Articles 366 and 367: These are interpretation articles, defining various terms and concepts used throughout the Constitution.

Article 369: This article provided temporary powers to the Parliament to make laws on specific matters listed under the State List. 

Article 395 reads: "The Indian Independence Act, 1947, and the Government of India Act, 1935, together with all enactments amending or supplementing the latter Act, but not including the Abolition of Privy Council Jurisdiction Act, 1949, are hereby repealed." 

The Constitution of India came into force in its entirety on January 26, 1950.

Prior to this a total 12 sessions of the Constituent Assembly were held. The 1st session was from 09 to 23 December 1946, 2nd from 20 to 25 January 1947, 3rd from 28 April to 02 May 1947, 4th from 13-14 July 1947, 5th from 14 to 30 August 1947, 6th on 27 January 1948, 7th from 04 November 1948 to 08 January 1949, 8th from 16 May to 16 June 1949, 9th from 30 July to 18 September 1949, 10th from 6 to 17 October 1949, 11th from 14 to 26 November 1949 and 12th session was on 24th January 1950. A committee was formed to draft the constitution which had a total of 389 members. 

The Constituent Assembly held approximately 166 meetings in 2 years, 11 months and 18 days. The press and the public were free to attend its meetings. The draft constitution was prepared by the drafting committee and presented to the assembly on November 4, 1947. The draft was discussed in the Constituent Assembly and about 2000 amendments were made during these 2 years. The Indian Constitution has taken a lot from the constitutions of other countries including the Britain, Australia, United States, Soviet Union, Canada, France, Germany, South Africa and Japan. The Indian Constitution is a mix of all the best constitutions in the world. 

On November 26, 2015 a special session of Parliament was conducted to give tribute to the Constitution of India and to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who was the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee. Since then, the day is celebrated as Constitution Day. 

Legal fraternity has been celebrating November 26 as "Law Day" since 1979. The Courts act against the unconstitutional acts of the States and other entities to enforce the letter and spirit of the Constitution, the fundamental law of the country.

The Constitution has given due and important place to the Judiciary in the State mechanism of the nation.

Also read: Why is Law Day, celebrated as Constitution Day since 2015