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THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
395 Articles, organised into 25 Parts and 12 Schedules, make up the Constitution of India

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Part V

Article 70

Discharge of President's functions in other contingencies

Parliament may make such provisions as it thinks fit for the discharge of the functions of the President in any contingency not provided for in this Chapter.

Version 1

Article 57, Draft Constitution 1948

Parliament may make such provision as it thinks fit for the discharge of the functions of the President in any contingency not provided for in this Chapter.

Version 2

Article 70, Constitution of India 1950

Parliament may make such provision as it thinks fit for the discharge of the functions of the President in any contingency not provided for in this Chapter.

Summary

Draft Article 57 (Article 70) was debated on 29 December 1948. It gave the President residuary powers to discharge his/her functions.

There was no substantive debate around the Draft Article. A member did not want the President to have this residuary powers. Instead, he wanted the Parliament to regulate its exercise. He sought to make this provision applicable to the Vice-President as well. The Chairman of the Drafting Committee noted that the Vice-President’s role as the Chairman of the Council of States was specifically stated in the Constitution. The Constitution also provided for a Deputy Chairman in case of the Vice-President’s absence. Hence the amendment was not necessary.

The Assembly adopted the Draft Article without any amendments on 29th December 1948.