Friday, 15 September 2017

Legislative relations between Union and State


 Legislative Relations:
Parliament and State legislatures are the established bodies under the Constitution to make laws for the territories throughout India. Certain questions arise:

1.       For which matters is legislation required,
2.       Where such shall such matters shall be recorded,
3.       Who shall legislate for which matter,
4.       Who shall legislate for matters not so recorded,
5.       Which legislation shall prevail in case of conflict,
6.       What are the provisions to deal in case unforeseen circumstances arise which require delegating power of legislation to other body?

The legislative relations between the two legislating bodies are provided for in Articles 245 to 255. The answers to above questions and other related matters are provided for and dealt with in these Articles.

245 deals with the extent of laws to be made by Parliament or State legislature.

245(1): says that Parliament has power to make laws for whole or any part of territory of India and legislature of a state has power to make laws for whole or any part of that state.

245(2): says that no law made by parliament to be deemed invalid on the ground that it would have extra-territorial operation.

246 deals with the three lists in Schedule 7 which contain the subject matter of legislation.

246(1): says that Parliament has power to make laws for the matters enumerated in List I of 7th schedule, called the Union List.

246(2): says that Parliament and subject to sub clause 1, legislature of a state have powers to legislate in any matter enumerated in List III of 7th Schedule, called the Concurrent List.

246(3): says that subject to provisions of sub clauses 1 and 2, the legislature of a state has power to make laws for that state in any matter enumerated in List II of the 7th schedule, called the State List.

246(4): Parliament has power to make laws for any matter for any such part of territory of India, which is not included in a State.

247: Parliament has power to establish additional courts for better administration of laws made by Parliament or of any existing laws with respect to matter enumerated in Union List.
248: Residuary power of legislation given to Parliament.
248(1): Parliament has exclusive power to make any law with respect to any matter not enumerated in the Concurrent List or State List.

248(2): Such power also includes power of making any law imposing a tax not mentioned in either of those lists.

249: gives power to Parliament to legislate with respect to a matter in the State List in national interest

249(1): Council of State declares by 2/3rd resolution of the members present and voting that it is necessary or expedient in national interest that Parliament should make laws for a matter in State List, then parliament can make law for that matter for whole or any part of territory of India, till such resolution remains in force.
Such resolution will stay in force for one year and may be extended by another one year. Such law made by Parliament by powers under (1) shall cease to be in force after 6 months the resolution has ceased to exist.

250: It gives power to Parliament to make laws with respect to matters in State list when proclamation of Emergency is in force. Such law made shall cease to be in force after 6 months the Proclamation has ceased to exist.

251: There may arise a situation where a law on a matter made by Parliament under either Article 249 or Article 250 clashes with a law that State Legislature has already made or is making. The question arises which law will prevail?
251 deals with such inconsistency. It is to be noted that law made under Article 249 is operative after 6 months till resolution of Council of States as given under 249(1) lasts and law made under Article lasts after 6 months till Proclamation of emergency is operative. Article 249 says that the law made by Parliament (whether made before or after State law) shall prevail, but as long as they are permitted to be operate under Articles 249 and 250.


252: It gives power to Parliament to legislate for two or more states by consent, an adoption such legislation by other state subsequently.
First, legislatures of two or more states have to recognize that it is required that Parliament legislates for any matter (a matter for which Parliament would have power to legislate only under Articles 249 and 250), then a resolution to that effect has to be passed by all the Houses of those states, after that Parliament can pass a law on that matter. Such law will be applicable on those states and to any other states whose legislatures pass a resolution to adopt it.
For its amendment or repeal, Parliament has to act only as per provision above.

253: This Article gives power to Parliament for making any law for the whole or any part of territory of India for implementing any treaty, agreement or convention with any other country or countries or any decisions made at any international conference, association or other body.

254: There may arise a situation where law made by legislature of a state is repugnant to any provision of law made by Parliament which the Parliament is competent to enact under any List I or under List III or under Article 248, then as per:

254(1): Subject to provisions of sub clause (2) the law made by Parliament shall prevail and the law of State legislature shall, to the extent of such repugnancy be void.

254(2): It comes to play when inconsistency arises between a law made by Parliament and State Legislature on a matter in Concurrent List. In such case the law of State Legislature shall prevail, provided that such law has previously received the assent of the President.

Article 255 says that in case some previous procedural sanction or recommendation as required under Constitution was not taken, then such Act of State or Parliament shall not be invalidated in following cases, where assent to that Act was required and given by:

 Governor, required either by Governor or President,
 Rajpramukh, required either by Governor or President,
 President, required by President.



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Interpretation and expansion of Fundamental Rights overtime (To be updated)

Article 14
Available to any person
Article 15
Available to citizens only
Purpose: prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them
15(1): Grounds: religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.
15(2): Grounds: religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.
15(3): allowance for special provision for women and children.
15(4):                   
·         Added by 1st Amendment in 1951
·         As a response to the judgment in State of Madras v Champakam Dorairanajan case
·         Exempt from provisions of Article 29 (2)
·         Allowance for special provisions for advancement of socially and educationally backward class of citizens or SCs and STs
·         Beneficiaries: Socially and Educationally backward class or citizens of SCs and STs
15 (5):
·         Added by 93rd Amendment in 2005
·         Exempt from: Article 19(1)(g)
·         Purpose: Allowance for admissions to educational institutions including private educational institutes whether aided or unaided by State
·         Beneficiaries: socially and educationally backward classes or citizens or SCs and STs
·         Purpose: legislation for reservation related policies for admission to educational institutes
·         Provisions not applicable over minority education institutes under Article 30(1)

Article 16
Available to citizens only
Purpose: to secure equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters related to employment or appointment in any office under the State.
16(2):
·         Grounds: religion, race, caste, sex, decent, place of birth, residence or any of them
·         Purpose: prevention of discrimination on above grounds for any employment or office under State
16(3): Allowance to Parliament to make laws prescribing any requirement as to residence within that State or UT, prior to such employment or appointment, with respect to certain class or classes of appointment or employment.
16(4):
·         Purpose Allowance for State to make provision for reservation for appointments and posts for in favor of any backward class of citizens which in the opinion of state is not adequately represented in services under the state.
·         Beneficiaries: backward class of citizens not adequately represented in services under state.
16(4A):
·         Added by: 77th Amendment 1995
·         Purpose: allowance for provisions for reservation in matters of promotion with consequential seniority to any class or classed of posts in the services under the State in favor of SC and ST which are not adequately represented in services under the State.
·         SC and ST which are not adequately represented in services under the State.
·         85th Amendment in 2001 added `consequential senority`
16(4B)
·         Added by 81st Amendment Act, 2000
·         Purpose: Vacancies under 4A or 4B left vacant in a year to be considered as separate class of vacancies in succeeding year
·         Ceiling fixed at 50%


Article 19
19(1): Available to citizens only
“SAAM Resides in Poland”
(a)    S - Speech and Expression,
(b)   A - Assemble peacefully,
(c)    A - Associations or Unions,
(d)   M - Move freely throughout India,
(e)   Resides - Reside and settle in any part of India,
(g) Po - Practice any profession

19(2): reasonable restrictions can be imposed on freedom under (a) Speech and Expression, in the interests of:
·         Sovereignty and integrity of India (Added by 16th Amendment, 1963)
·         Security of State,
·         Friendly relations with foreign state,
·         Public order,
·         Decency or morality,
·         In relation to contempt of court, defamation,
·         Incitement to an offence
19(3) and 19 (4): reasonable restrictions can be imposed on freedom under (b) Assemble peacefully and (c) form Associations or Unions, in the interests of:
·         Sovereignty and integrity of India,
·         Public order
19(5):  reasonable restrictions can be imposed on freedom under (g) practice any profession in the interests of General Public. However, professional qualifications can be laid down.

Article 20
Available to any person.
20(1): Protection from retrospective operation of laws,
20(2): Protection from double jeopardy, autre fois convict,
20(3): Protection from compulsion to be a witness against himself
Article 21 A
Added by 86th Amendment, 2002
Free and compulsory education to children between 6 to 14 years.

Article 22
22(1): No person who is arrested shall be detained in custody without being informed of grounds of such arrest nor shall be denied the right to consult and to be defended by legal practitioner of his choice.
22(2): to be produced before magistrate within 24 hours
22(3): exceptions are alien enemy or person arrested under preventive detention
22(4): For preventive detention above 3 months permission of advisory board necessary.
Article 25
25(1): Freedom of religion is subject to public order, morality and health and to other provisions of this part (Part III Fundamental Rights)

Hindus include Sikh, Jain or Buddhist religion


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Questions on Articles of Constitution of India 3

Questions on Articles of Constitution of India 3
1.       Which Article talks about Power to carry on trade?
298
2.       Which Article talks about `Contracts`?
299
3.       Which Article talks about `Suits and Proceedings`?
300
4.       Which Article says that `Persons not to be deprived of property save by authority of law`?
300A
5.       Which Article talks about `Freedom of Trade, Commerce and Intercourse`?
301
6.       Which Article talks about `Powers of Parliament to impose restrictions on trade, commerce and intercourse`?
302
7.       Which Article talks about `Restriction on Legislative powers of the union and of the states with regard to trade and commerce`?
303
8.       Which Article talks about `Restriction on trade, commerce and intercourse among states`?
304
9.       Which Article talks about `Saving of existing laws and laws providing for State monopolies`?
305
10.   Which Article is on `Dismissal, removal or reduction in rank of persons employed as civil servants of Union or States`?
311
11.   Which Article talks about `All India Services`?
312
12.   Which Article talks about `Power of Parliament to vary or revoke conditions of service of officers of certain services`?
312A
13.   Which Article establishes Public Service Commissions for the Union and States?
315
14.   Which Article talks about Functions of Public Service Commissions?
320
15.   Which Article is about Power to extend functions of Public Service Commissions?
321
16.   Which Article talks about `Administrative Tribunals`?
323 A
17.   Which Article establishes `Tribunals for other matters`?
323 B
18.   Which Article gives power of superintendence, direction and control of elections to be vested in an Election Commission?
324
19.   Which Article talks about Adult Suffarage?
326
20.   Which Article talks about power of Parliament to make provision with respect to elections to Legislatures?
327
21.   Which Article talks about `Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters`?
329
22.   Which Article provides for Reservation of seats for SC/ST in House of the people?
330
23.   Which Artilce provides for representation of the Anglo-Indian community in the House of People?
331
24.   Which Artilce is on reservation of seats for SC/ST in Legislative Assemblies of states?
332
25.   Which Article says that `reservation of seats and special representation to cease after 70 years`?
334
26.   Which Article establishes `National Commission for Scheduled Castes`?
338
27.   Which Article establishes `National Commission for Scheduled Tribes`?
338A
28.   Which Article appoints `Commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes`?
340
29.   Which Article says that the President may wih respect to any State of UT after consultation with the Governor specifies Scheduled Castes?
341
30.   Which Article says that the President may with respect to any State of Union Territory after consultation with Governor specifies Scheduled Tribes?
342
31.   Which Article specifies the `Official language of the Union`?
343
32.   Which Article specifies the Language to be used in the Supreme Court and in the High Courts and for Acts, Bills etc?
348
33.   Some other Articles on language:
a.       To be used in representations for redress of grievances: 350
b.      Facilities for instruction in mother tongue at primary stage: 350A
c.       Special officer for linguistic minorities: 350B
d.      Directive for development of Hindi language: 351
34.   Which Article says that if the President is satisfied that a grave emergency exists he may by proclamation make a proclamation of emergency?
352
35.   Which Article is about `Duty of Union to protect states against external aggression and internal disputes`?
355
36.   Which Article provides for provisions in case of failure of constitutional machinery in States?
356
37.   Which Article is about exercise of legislative powers under Proclamation issued under 356, and says that power of State Legislature shall be exercisable by or under the authority of the Parliament?
357
38.   Which Article says that provisions of Article 19 shall remain suspended during emergency caused due to war and external aggression?
358
39.   Which Article says that where a proclamation of emergency is in operation the President may by order declare that the right to move any court for the enforcement of such of the rights conferred by Part III, except Articles 20 and 21, including pending proceedings in courts, shall remain suspended during the time when Proclamation is in force?
359
40.   Which Article lays down provisions for Financial Emergency?
360
41.   Which Article provides constitutional protection to President and Governers and Rajpramukhs?
361
42.   Which Article provides protection to publication of proceedings of Parliament and State Legislatures?
361A
43.   Which Article provides for bar to interference by Courts in disputes arising out of certain treaties, agreements, etc.?
363
44.   Which Article provides for special provisions for major ports and aerodromes?
364
45.   Which Article provides for `Effect of failure to comply with, or to give effect to, directions given by the Union?
366
46.   Which Article provides for `Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and procedure therefor?
368
47.   Special provision for states:
a.       J&K: 370
b.      Maharashtra and Gujarat: 371
c.       Nagaland: 371 A
d.      Assam: 371 B
e.      Manipur: 371 C
f.        Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: 371 D
48.   Which Article defines the Short Title to the Constitution?
393
49.   Which Article provides for Authoritative Text in Hindi language of the Constitution?

394 A 



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