Background:
14 Points of Quaied-e-Azam were given by Jinnah in 1929 in response to Nehru Report which was published in 1928. Nehru Report was a draft for future constitution of India but it excluded many Muslim demands and was incomplete document. Quaid-i-Azam decided to give his own formula for the constitutional reforms in reply to the Nehru Report. He convened the meeting of the Muslim League in 1929 in Delhi and gave his famous Fourteen Points Formula. While delivering his Presidential Address, the Quaid Azam declared that no constitution shall be accepted by the Muslims of India without the Fourteen Points which were as follows:
1. Federal Form of Govt.:
The form of future constitution should be federal with the residuary powers vested in the provinces.
2. Provincial Autonomy:
A uniform measure of autonomy shall be granted to all provinces:
3. Minorities Representation:
All legislatures in the country and other elected bodies shall be constituted on the definite principle of adequate and effective representation of minorities in every province with reducing the majority in any province to a minority or even equality.
4. 1/3 Muslim Representation:
In the Central legislature Muslim representation shall not be less than one-third.
5. Separate Electorates:
Representation of communal groups shall continue to be by separate electorates, provided that it shall be open to any community, at any time, to abandon its separate electorate in favour of joint electorate.
6. Protection from change of boundry:
Any territorial redistribution that might at any time be necessary shall not in any way affect the Muslim majority in the Punjab, Bengal and Khyber Pakhtun khawa.
7. Religious Liberty:
Full religious liberty, that is liberty of belief, worship and observance, propaganda, association and education shall be guaranteed to all communities.
8. Consent of Minority for Passing of a Bill:
No bill or resolution or any part, thereof, shall be passed in any legislature or any other elected body if three-fourths of the members of any community in that particular body oppose it as being injurious to the interests of that community.
9. Separation of Sindh:
Sindh should be separated from the Bombay presidency.
10. KPK and Baloschistan:
Reforms should be introduced in the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and Balochistan on the same footings as in the other provinces.
11. Share in Services:
Muslims should be given adequate share along with other Indians in the services of the State.
12. Constitutional Protection for Muslim Culture & Civilization:
The constitution should embody adequate safeguard for the protection of Muslim culture and for the promotion of Muslim education, language, religion and civilization.
13. Muslim Share in Administration:
No cabinet, either Central or Provincial, should be formed without at least 1/3rd of the Muslim Ministers.
14. Amendment in Constitution:
No change Shall be made in the constitution by Central Legislature except with the concurrence of the States constituting the Indian Federation.
Conclusion:
If we summarize Quaid e Azam’s 14 points, following main points were covered by this constitutional formaula:
1- Governamental Structure:
Quaid e Azam gave complete attention to the future structure of government in his 14 points. He emphasized the Federal Form of Government, which works on the division of powers between Center and Constituent units which may be states or provinces. He also emphasized complete autonomy for provinces which is the essence of federalism.
2. Legislation and Representation:
With respect to the reprenstation in Assemblies, Quaid-e-Azam through his fourteen points gave the suggestions that in Central legislature, Muslim Representation should not be less than 1/3. He also said that these representative willl be elected through separate electorates for minorities. He stipulated that for a bill to Pass in Assembly, it should get communal consent and if three fourths of any community reject this Bill, it will be discarded. With Respect to amendment in constitution, he made it clear that the amendement will only take place if it gets the assent of Constituent units.
3. Provinces:
Qauid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah put special emphasis on provinces in his 14 points formula. He first of all demanded complete autonomy for all provinces and reforms for KPK and Balochistan and separation of Sindh from Bombay.
4. Minority Rights:
For minoritie, there were a lot of demands incorporated in Jinnah 14 points. Religious Libertry, Effective Representation, Consent in Legislation and Separate Electorates.
5. Muslims Advocacy:
Quiad-e-Azam spoke his heart out for Muslims and made many legitimate demands, rights and protections in in 14 points formula. 1/3 Muslim Representaion in Central Legislature as well as Administration, Religious liberty, separate electorates, share in services and constitutional protection for Muslim Culture and civilization stand out.