Jurisdiction of the Union in relation to territories outside India

Article 236, Draft Constitution of India (1948)

(1) The Government of India may by agreement with any State for the time being specified in Part III of the First Schedule, but subject to the provisions of this Constitution in regard to the relationship between the Union and such State, undertake any executive, legislative or judicial functions vested in that State.

(2) The Government of India may also enter into such an agreement with the Government of any Indian State not specified for the time being in the First Schedule, but every such agreement shall be subject to, and governed by, the law relating to the exercise of foreign jurisdiction for the time being in force.

Explanation.-In this clause, the expression “Indian State” means any territory, not being part of the territory of India which the President recognises as being such a State.

(3) If an agreement entered into with any State under clause (1) of this article provides for any matter with respect to which provision has been already made in an agreement entered into with such a State under article 237 of this Constitution by the Government of any State for the time being specified in Part I of the First Schedule, then the latter agreement shall, in so far as it provides for such matter, be deemed to be revoked and of no effect on and from the date of conclusion of the former agreement.

(4) On an agreement under clause (1) of this article being concluded between the Union and a State for the time being specified in Part III of the First Schedule-

(a) The executive power of the Union shall extend to any matter specified in that behalf in such agreement;

(b) Parliament shall have power to make laws with respect to any matter specified in that behalf in such agreement; and

(c) The Supreme Court of India shall, subject to the provisions of clause (2) of article 114 of this Constitution, have jurisdiction with respect to any matter specified in that behalf in such agreement.

Article 260, Constitution of India 1950

The Government of India may by agreement, with the Government of any territory not being part of the territory of India undertake any executive, legislative or judicial functions vested in the Government of such territory, but every such agreement shall be subject to, and governed by, any law relating to the exercise of foreign jurisdiction for the time being in force.

Draft Article 236 (Article 260, Constitution of India 1950) was first discussed on 13 June 1949 and 13 October 1949. There was no debate on 13 June 1949 and this Draft Article was held over. The Draft Article permitted the Government of India to undertake any executive, legislative and judicial functions in territories that, at the time, were not officially part of the Union of India.

On 13 October 1949, the Drafting Committee Chairman proposed to replace the Draft Article with a more elegant and clear version. The proposed amendment was accepted without debate.

The Draft Article, as amended was adopted on 13 October 1949.