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Part XVIII · Emergency Provisions

Article 358: Suspension of provisions of article 19 during emergencies

Official text as on 1 May 2024

Text of Article 358

[(1)] [While a Proclamation of Emergency declaring that the security of India or any part of the territory thereof is threatened by war or by external aggression is in operation], nothing in article 19 shall restrict the power of the State as defined in Part III to make any law or to take any executive action which the State would but for the provisions contained in that Part be competent to make or to take, but any law so made shall, to the extent of the incompetency, cease to have effect as soon as the Proclamation ceases to operate, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the law so ceases to have effect:

[Provided that [where such Proclamation of Emergency] is in operation only in any part of the territory of India, any such law may be made, or any such executive action may be taken, under this article in relation to or in any State or Union territory in which or in any part of which the Proclamation of Emergency is not in operation, if and in so far as the security of India or any part of the territory thereof is threatened by activities in or in relation to the part of the territory of India in which the Proclamation of Emergency is in operation.]

[(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall apply—

(a) to any law which does not contain a recital to the effect that such law is in relation to the Proclamation of Emergency in operation when it is made; or

(b) to any executive action taken otherwise than under a law containing such a recital.]

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 358, landmark judgments and exam facts are being added to this page.

Amendment history

Changed by: 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, 44th Amendment Act, 1978

  • Art. 358 re-numbered as cl. (1) by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 39 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
  • Subs. by s. 39, ibid, for "While a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation" (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
  • Added by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 52 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
  • Subs. by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 39, for "where a Proclamation of Emergency" (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
  • Ins. by s. 39, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).

More in Part XVIII: Emergency Provisions · Constitution quiz

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