It must have been a bizarre moment for S.S. Rajendran when he did not take part in the voting on the 24 Constitution Amendment Bill to abolish privy purses in September 1970.
Quoting him, a report published in The Hindu on September 6 that year said he had been unwell since the morning with a stomach upset. Yet, he rushed to the Rajya Sabha in the afternoon after he was informed that his presence was essential. But, by the time he reached the lobbies of the Rajya Sabha, he found the door leading to the chamber closed. He was “late by a few seconds.”
His absence made a huge difference as the Bill fell through by just one vote. This caused the Central government of Indira Gandhi a huge embarrassment. The succeeding months were eventful. When the government issued an executive order to withdraw the recognition of former rulers and abolish their privy purses, the Supreme Court struck it down. Eventually, the nation had to face snap polls. A year later, Parliament adopted the 26 Constitution Amendment Bill to abolish privy purses.
