The Constitution of India
Power of Governor to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Legislature
- Jurisdiction
- India
- Provision
- 213
- Source language
- eng+tel
- Recorded status
- in force
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- Recorded status
- in force
Provision text
Official sourceat any time, except when the Legislative Assembly of a State is in session, or where there is
a Legislative Council in a State, except when both Houses of the Legislature are in session,
the Governor is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take
immediate action, he may promulgate such Ordinances as the circumstances appear to him to
require:
1. Inserted by the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970), s.46 (w.e.f. 25.1.1971).
2. Substituted by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 (81 of 1971) s.71, for “Legislature of the State of
Himachal Pradesh” (w.e.f.21.1.1972).
3. Inserted by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986 (34 of 1986), s.39 (w.e.f. 20.2.1987).
4. Substituted by the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986 (69 of 1986), s.42, for “Legislature of the State of Mizoram”
(w.e.f. 30.5.1987).
5. Substituted by the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987 (18 of 1987), s.63, for “Arunachal Pradesh and
Mizoram” (w.e.f. 30.5.1987).
103 THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
(Part VI. — The States)
Provided that the Governor shall not, without instructions from the President,
promulgate any such Ordinance if—
(a) a Bill containing the same provisions would under this Constitution have
required the previous sanction of the President for the introduction thereof into the
Legislature; or
(b) he would have deemed it necessary to reserve a Bill containing the same
provisions for the consideration of the President; or
(c) an Act of the Legislature of the State containing the same provisions would
under this Constitution have been invalid unless, having been reserved for the
consideration of the President, it had received the assent of the President.
(2) An Ordinance promulgated under this article shall have the same force and effect as
an Act of the Legislature of the State assented to by the Governor, but every such
Ordinance—
(a) shall be laid before the Legislative Assembly of the State, or where there is a
Legislative Council in the State, before both the Houses, and shall cease to operate at
the expiration of six weeks from the reassembly of the Legislature, or if before the
expiration of that period a resolution disapproving it is passed by the Legislative
Assembly and agreed to by the Legislative Council, if any, upon the passing of the
resolution or, as the case may be, on the resolution being agreed to by the Council; and
(b) may be withdrawn at any time by the Governor.
Explanation:- Where the Houses of the Legislature of a State having a Legislative
Council are summoned to reassemble on different dates, the period of six weeks shall be
reckoned from the later of those dates for the purposes of this clause.
(3) If and so far as an Ordinance under this article makes any provision which would
not be valid if enacted in an Act of the Legislature of the State assented to by the Governor,
it shall be void:
Provided that, for the purposes of the provisions of this Constitution relating to the
effect of an Act of the Legislature of a State which is repugnant to an Act of Parliament or an
existing law with respect to a matter enumerated in the Concurrent List, an Ordinance
promulgated under this article in pursuance of instructions from the President shall be
deemed to be an Act of the Legislature of the State which has been reserved for the
consideration of the President and assented to by him.
104 THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
(Part VI. — The States)
1
[(4) * * * *]
CHAPTER – V
THE HIGH COURTS IN THE STATES
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The Constitution of India · legislative.gov.in · Retrieved 17 August 2026.
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