62. The Constitution (Sixty-second Amendment) Act, 1989—Article 334 of the Constitution
lays down that the provisions of the Constitution relating to the reservation of seats for the
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the representation of the Anglo-Indian
community by nomination in the Lok Sabha and in the Legislative Assemblies of the States shall
cease to have effect on the expiry of a period of 40 years from the commencement of the
Constitution. Although the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes have made considerable
progress in the last 40 years, the reasons which weighed with the Constituent Assembly in
making provisions with regard to the aforesaid reservation of seats and nomination of members,
have not ceased to exist. The Act amends Article 334 of the Constitution to continue the
reservation for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the representation of the
Anglo-Indians by nomination for a further period of 10 years.
63. The Constitution (Sixty-third Amendment) Act, 1989—The Constitution (Fifty-ninth
Amendment) Act, 1988 was enacted in March 1988 making certain changes in regard to making
a Proclamation of Emergency in Punjab and to the duration of President’s rule in State. On
reconsideration, the Government decided that the special powers in regard to the Proclamation of
Emergency in Punjab as envisaged in the said amendment is no longer required. Accordingly the
provision to clause (5) of Article 356 and Article 359A of the Constitution have been omitted.
64. The Constitution (Sixty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1990—This Act amends clauses (4) and
(5) of Article 356 of the Constitution with a view to facilitate the extension of the proclamation
issued under clause (1) of Article 356 of the Constitution on 11th May 1987 upto a total period
of three years and six months in relation to the State of Punjab.
65. The Constitution (Sixty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1990—Article 338 of the Constitution
provides for a Special Officer for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to investigate all
matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under
the Constitution and to report to the President on their working. The Article has been amended
for the constitution of a National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
consisting of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and five other Members who shall be appointed
by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. The amended Article elaborates the duties
of the said Commission and covers measures that should be taken by the Union or any state for
the effective implementation of the reports presented by the Commission. It also provides that
the Commission shall, while investigating any matter or inquiring into any complaint have all the
powers of a Civil Court trying a suit and the reports of the said Commission shall be laid before
Parliament and the Legislature of the states.
66. The Constitution (Sixty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1990—The Act protects 55 State Acts
relating to land reforms and ceiling on agricultural land holdings enacted by States of Andhra
Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Orissa, Rajasthan,Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and administration of the Union
Territory of Puducherry, from challenge in courts, by including them in the Ninth Schedule to
the Constitution.
67. The Constitution (Sixty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1990—The three year period in the
case of proclamation issued on 11th May 1987 with respect to the State of Punjab was extended
to three years and six months by the Constitution (Sixty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1990. This Act
further amends clause (4) of Article 356 so as to further extend the period upto a total period of
four years.