🏛️ Article 333 of the Indian Constitution
Title: Representation of the Anglo-Indian community in the Legislative Assemblies of the States
🔴 (Now Repealed by the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019)
📘 Purpose (Before Repeal):
Article 333 empowered the Governor of a State to nominate one member of the Anglo-Indian community to the State Legislative Assembly, if he/she believed the community was not adequately represented.
🔍 Key Provisions of Article 333 (Before Repeal):
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Provision Type | Nomination to the State Legislative Assembly |
| Authority Involved | Governor of the State |
| Eligible Community | Anglo-Indian |
| Max Nominations Allowed | 1 member per State Assembly |
| Condition for Nomination | Governor must believe the community is not adequately represented |
| Current Status | ❌ Repealed (by the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, effective Jan 25, 2020) |
🧠 Why Was Article 333 Repealed?
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The Anglo-Indian population was reported to be extremely small (official census figure was only 296 in 2011).
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The government stated there was no longer a need for special nomination in State Assemblies.
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The 104th Amendment removed Article 333 and Article 331 (Lok Sabha nomination).
✅ Example (Before Repeal):
| State | Anglo-Indian Member Nominated | Assembly Term |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | Beatrix D’Souza | 1996–2001 |
| Karnataka | Ivan Nigli | 2004–2008 |
| West Bengal | Denzil Smith | 2011–2016 |
📌 Current Status (After Repeal):
| Provision | Status |
|---|---|
| Article 333 | ❌ No longer in force |
| Nominated Anglo-Indian in Assembly | ❌ Discontinued from 2020 |
Here is the 🗓️ Timeline of Article 333 – tracing its origin, implementation, and eventual repeal regarding Anglo-Indian representation in State Legislative Assemblies:
📜 Timeline of Article 333 – Anglo-Indian Nomination in State Assemblies
| Year / Event | Details |
|---|---|
| 26 January 1950 | 🏛️ Constitution of India comes into force |
| ✔️ Article 333 allows Governor of a state to nominate 1 Anglo-Indian to the State Legislative Assembly if underrepresented. | |
| 1952 – First Elections | First Anglo-Indian members nominated to several State Assemblies including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, etc. |
| 1950–2019 | Anglo-Indian members nominated regularly in many states across India. |
| Prominent names: Beatrix D’Souza (TN), Ivan Nigli (Karnataka), Denzil Smith (WB). | |
| 2011 Census | Government claims Anglo-Indian population is only 296, sparking debate on the need for reserved representation. |
| December 2019 | Parliament passes the 104th Constitutional Amendment Bill, proposing to abolish nomination for Anglo-Indians under Articles 331 & 333. |
| 10 January 2020 | 104th Constitutional Amendment Act gets President's assent. |
| ✔️ Article 333 is repealed along with Article 331. | |
| 25 January 2020 | 📅 Official date of repeal. |
| No Anglo-Indian nomination allowed in State Assemblies from this date onward. |
🧠 Summary Highlights:
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🧾 Article 333 was a protective provision for a micro-minority community.
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⚖️ It lasted for 70 years before being repealed.
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🔚 Repeal justified by Government citing low population & changing demographics.
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