The Constitution of India
Control of the Union over States in certain cases
- Jurisdiction
- India
- Provision
- 257
- Source language
- eng+tel
- Recorded status
- in force
More details
- Recorded status
- in force
Provision text
Official sourceState shall be so exercised as not to impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power
of the Union, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of such
directions to a State as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary for that
purpose.
(2) The executive power of the Union shall also extend to the giving of directions to a
State as to the construction and maintenance of means of communication declared in the
direction to be of national or military importance:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall be taken as restricting the power of
Parliament to declare highways or waterways to be national highways or national waterways
or the power of the Union with respect to the highways or waterways so declared or the
power of the Union to construct and maintain means of communication as part of its
functions with respect to naval, military and air force works.
(3) The executive power of the Union shall also extend to the giving of directions to a
State as to the measures to be taken for the protection of the railways within the State.
(4) Where in carrying out any direction given to a State under clause (2) as to the
construction or maintenance of any means of communication or under clause (3) as to the
measures to be taken for the protection of any railway, costs have been incurred in excess of
those which would have been incurred in the discharge of the normal duties of the State if
such direction had not been given, there shall be paid by the Government of India to the
State such sum as may be agreed, or, in default of agreement, as may be determined by an
arbitrator appointed by the Chief Justice of India, in respect of the extra costs so incurred by
the State.
158 THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
(Part XI. - Relations Between The Union And The States)
1
[257A. Assistance to States by deployment of armed forces or other forces of the
Union.]:- Omitted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 33 (w.e.f.
20.6.1979).
Source record
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The Constitution of India · legislative.gov.in · Retrieved 17 August 2026.
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