📜 Article 207 of the Indian Constitution
Title: Special provisions as to financial Bills
🔹 Purpose:
Article 207 deals with the procedure for introducing and passing Financial Bills in State Legislatures, similar to Article 117 at the Union level. It outlines how Money Bills and other Financial Bills must be handled in states.
📌 Clause-wise Breakdown:
| Clause | Provision |
|---|---|
| (1) | A Bill that makes provisions for matters mentioned in Article 199 (Money Bills) cannot be introduced in the Legislative Assembly without: |
| – Governor's recommendation, and | |
| – Must be introduced only in the Legislative Assembly (not in the Legislative Council, if present). | |
| (2) | A Bill (not being a Money Bill) that involves expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of the State: |
| 👉 Cannot be passed by either House unless the Governor has recommended its consideration. | |
| ✅ It may be introduced without recommendation, but cannot be passed without it. | |
| (3) | A Bill that contains both Money Bill provisions (Article 199) and other matters, is treated as a Money Bill, and thus follows the Money Bill procedure. |
🧠 Key Takeaways:
-
Governor's recommendation is mandatory before passing any financial bill involving state expenditure.
-
Only the Legislative Assembly can introduce Money Bills.
-
The Legislative Council has no authority to reject a Money Bill — it can only delay it for 14 days.
-
Ensures executive control over financial matters and protects the Consolidated Fund of the State.
📊 Types of Financial Bills:
| Type | Governor's Recommendation? | Where Introduced? | Vote Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money Bill (Art. 199) | ✅ Yes (mandatory) | Legislative Assembly | ✅ Yes |
| Other Financial Bill | ✅ Before passing | Either House (if bicameral) | ✅ Yes |
⚖️ Related Articles:
| Article | Subject |
|---|---|
| 199 | Definition of a Money Bill in states |
| 200 | Governor's assent to Bills |
| 207 | Procedure for Financial Bills in State Legislature |
| 117 | Financial Bills in Parliament |
🏛️ Real-Life Scenario:
If the State Government of Maharashtra wants to introduce a Bill to raise taxes or increase pension expenditure:
-
The Governor’s recommendation is required.
-
It must be introduced only in the Legislative Assembly.
-
The Legislative Council (if any) can only give suggestions (if it’s a Money Bill).
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