Part VIII · The Union Territories
Article 240: Power of President to make regulations for certain Union territories
Text of Article 240
(1) The President may make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of the Union territory of—
(a) the Andaman and Nicobar Islands;
[(b) Lakshadweep;]
[(c) Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu;]
[(d) **** ;]
[(e) [Puducherry ];]
8(f) * * * 9(g) * * *
[Provided that when any body is created under article 239A to function as a Legislature for the Union territory of [Puducherry], the President shall not make any regulation for the peace, progress and good government of that Union territory with effect from the date appointed for the first meeting of the Legislature:]
[Provided further that whenever the body functioning as a Legislature for the Union territory of [Puducherry] is dissolved, or the functioning of that body as such Legislature remains suspended on account of any action taken under any such law as is referred to in clause (1) of article 239A, the President may, during the period of such dissolution or suspension, make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of that Union territory.]
(2) Any regulation so made may repeal or amend any Act made by Parliament or [any other law], which is for the time being applicable to the Union territory and, when promulgated by the President, shall have the same force and effect as an Act of Parliament which applies to that territory.
Words in [square brackets] were inserted or substituted by later amendments (see below). Source: Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India
A plain-English explanation of Article 240, landmark judgments and exam facts are being added to this page.
Amendment history
Changed by: 7th Amendment Act, 1956, 10th Amendment Act, 1961, 14th Amendment Act, 1962, 27th Amendment Act, 1971
- Subs. by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 17, for art. 240 (w.e.f. 1-11- 1956).
- Subs. by the Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands (Alteration of Name) Act, 1973 (34 of 1973), s. 4, for entry (b) (w.e.f. 1-11-1973).
- Subs. by the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union territories) Act, 2019 (44 of 2019) s. 4(i) (w.e.f. 26-1-2020) for entry (c) which was ins. by the Constitution (Tenth Amendment) Act, 1961, s.3 (w.e.f. 11-8-1961).
- Omitted by the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union territories) Act, 2019 (44 of 2019) s. 4(ii) (w.e.f. 26-1-2020).
- Ins. by the Constitution (Fourteenth Amendment) Act, 1962, s. 5 (w.e.f. 16-8-1962).
- Subs. by the Pondicherry (Alteration of Name) Act, 2006 (44 of 2006), s. 4 for "Pondicherry" (w.e.f. 1-10-2006).
- Ins. by the Constitution (Fourteenth Amendment) Act, 1962, s. 5 (w.e.f. 28-12-1962).
- Ins. by the Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1971, s. 4 (w.e.f. 15-2-1972).
- Subs. by the Pondicherry (Alteration of Name) Act, 2006 (44 of 2006), s. 4, for "Pondicherry" (w.e.f. 1-10-2006).
- Subs. by the Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1971, s. 4, for "any existing law" (w.e.f. 15-2-1972).
More in Part VIII: The Union Territories · Constitution quiz