That the framers were favourably inclined towards a strong centre is evident by the constitutionally guaranteed status of the second chamber of India’s Parliament, the Rajya Sabha. The composition and functions of the Rajya Sabha were designed to subserve the following purposes: (a) to secure, for the legislative process at the Union level, the thinking and guidance of mature and experienced persons, popularly known as ‘the elders’ who are disinclined to get involved in active politics and contest in direct elections to the Lok Sabha; (b) to enable the state to give effective expression to their viewpoints at the parliamentary level; (c) to ensure some degree of continuity in the policies underlying parliamentary legislation; and (d) to function as a House of Parliament which would more or less be coordinate with the Lok Sabha, with safeguards for speedy resolution of any conflicts between the two Houses on legislation. A perusal of the debates in the Constituent Assembly on the provisions relating to the second chamber reveals unanimity among the founding fathers. The Rajya Sabha was conceptualized as a second chamber providing ‘checks and balances’ to the functioning of parliamentary democracy in India. As Gopala swamy Ayyangar characterized the Rajya Sabha: The most that we expect . . . the Second Chamber to do is perhaps to . . . hold dignified debates on important issues and to delay legislation which might be the outcome of passions of the moment until the passions have subsided and calm consideration could be bestowed on the measures which will be before the Legislature . . . this Second Chamber is only an instrument by which we delay action which might be hastily conceived and we also give an opportunity perhaps, to seasoned people who may not be in the thickest of the political fray, who might be willing to participate in the debate with an amount of learning and importance which we do not ordinarily associate with a House of People.