All Amendments of the Indian Constitution at a glance

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.