Constitution as a social document “The first task of this Assembly is to free India through a new constitution, to feed the starving people, and to clothe the naked masses, and to give every Indian the fullest opportunity to develop himself according to his capacity. ” (Jawaharlal Nehru, Constituent Assembly debates, Vol II) When India began its tryst with destiny after independence, majority of the population was living in abject poverty-an outcome of colonial rule-while social structure was also medieval and fraught with inequalities. The task of making a new constitution for the country was therefore seen as an opportunity to build a new nation on modern lines where individuals can have a dignified existence. In that stupendous task, constitution envisages India as a welfare state where greatest good of greatest number of citizens are ensured....