What is Article 173 of Indian constitution

www.hinsoli.com July 05, 2025

Article 173 of the Indian Constitution

Title: Qualification for membership of the State Legislature

🔹 Text Summary of Article 173:

Article 173 lays down the eligibility criteria for becoming a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) or Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) in a state.

📌 Key Provisions of Article 173:

To be qualified as a Member of a State Legislature, a person must:

Requirement	Details
✅ Citizenship	Must be a citizen of India
✅ Oath or Affirmation	Must subscribe to an oath or affirmation under the Constitution (as per 3rd Schedule)
✅ Age (MLA)	At least 25 years old for Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha)
✅ Age (MLC)	At least 30 years old for Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)
✅ Other qualifications	Must fulfill any other qualifications prescribed by Parliament by law (e.g., Representation of the People Act, 1951)

❌ Disqualifications Not Included Here:

Disqualifications are dealt with under:

Article 191 – Office of profit, unsound mind, etc.
10th Schedule – Anti-defection law

🧠 Key Takeaways:

Article 173 is similar to Article 84 (qualifications for MPs).
It sets minimum eligibility, but disqualifications are listed elsewhere.
Ensures candidates are mature and legally committed to uphold the Constitution.

⚖️ Related Articles:

Article	Subject
84	Qualification for MP (Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha)
191	Disqualifications for MLAs and MLCs
173 + RPA 1951	Together form full eligibility and disqualification criteria