(3) of the Constitution. However, in view of the historical background with respect to the areas
comprised in north-eastern states, the circumstances obtaining in these areas in the State of
development of Scheduled Tribes and other relevant considerations, it was considered necessary
to provide for special arrangements with regard to the reservation for Scheduled Tribes in these
areas for a temporary period so as to facilitate easy transition of these areas to the normal
arrangements as envisaged in the Constitution. Article 332 of the Constitution was further
amended for making a temporary provision, until the re-adjustment of seats on the basis of first
census after the year 2000 under article 170 of the Constitution for these states, for the
determination of the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes. This amendment seeks to
provide that if all the seats in the Legislative Assembly of such States in existence on the date of
coming into force of this constitution amendment act are held by the members of Scheduled
Tribes, all the seats except one shall be reserved for scheduled tribes and in any other case such
number of seats as bears to the total number of seats a proportion not less than the number of
members belonging to Scheduled Tribes in the existing assembly bears to the total number of
seats in the existing assembly. The Act achieves these objectives.
58. The Constitution (Fifty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1987—There has been general demand
for the publication of authoritative text of the Constitution in Hindi. It is imperative to have an
authoritative text of the Constitution for facilitating its use in the legal process. Any Hindi
version of the Constitution should not only conform to the Hindi translation published by the
Constituent Assembly, but should be in conformity, with the language style and terminology
adopted in the authoritative texts of Central Acts in Hindi. The Constitution has been amended to
empower President of India to publish under his authority the translation of the Constitution in
Hindi signed by the Members of the Constituent Assembly with such modification as may be
necessary to bring it in conformity with the language, style and terminology adopted in the
authoritative texts of Central Acts in Hindi language. President has also been authorised to
publish the translation in Hindi of every amendment of the Constitution made in English.
59. The Constitution (Fifty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1988—The Act amends Article 365 (5)
of the Constitution so as to facilitate the extension of a Presidential Proclamation issued under
clause (1) of Article 356 beyond a period of one year, if necessary upto a period of three years,
as permissible under clause (4) of Article 356 with respect to the State of Punjab because of the
continued disturbed situation there. The Act also amends Article 352 of the Constitution
pertaining to the Proclamation of Emergency in its application to the State of Punjab and
includes internal disturbance as one of the grounds for making a Proclamation in respect of the
State of Punjab only. As a consequence of amendment in Article 352, Articles 358 and 359 in
relation to the State of Punjab will be operative only for a period of two years from 30 March
1988, which is the date of commencement of the amendment.
60. The Constitution (Sixtieth Amendment) Act, 1988—The Act amends clause (2) of Article
276 of the Constitution so as to increase the ceiling of taxes on professions, trades, callings and
employment from Rs 250 per annum to Rs 2,500 per annum. The upward revision of this tax will
help state governments in raising additional resources. The proviso to clause (2) has been
omitted.
61. The Constitution (Sixty-first Amendment) Act, 1989—The Act provides for reducing
voting age from 21 to 18 years by amending Article 326 of the Constitution to provide to the
unrepresented youth of the country an opportunity to give vent to their feelings and help them
become a part of political process.