📜 Article 240 of the Indian Constitution
Title: Power of President to make regulations for certain Union territories
🔹 Text Summary:
Article 240 empowers the President of India to make regulations having the force of law for the administration of certain Union Territories (UTs) where there is no legislative assembly.
🧠 Key Features of Article 240:
| 🔑 Aspect | ✅ Details |
|---|---|
| Who has the power? | The President of India |
| What kind of power? | To make regulations (like laws) for UTs |
| Applies to which UTs? | Currently includes: |
| ✔️ Andaman and Nicobar Islands | |
| ✔️ Lakshadweep | |
| ✔️ Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | |
| ✔️ Chandigarh | |
| Force of law? | Yes — regulations made by the President have the same effect as laws made by Parliament |
| Can override existing laws? | ✅ Yes, including laws passed by Parliament (in these UTs) |
⚠️ Important Notes:
-
Delhi and Puducherry are not covered under Article 240, as they have their own legislative assemblies (under Articles 239AA and 239A respectively).
-
If Parliament passes a law for any of these UTs, the President’s regulation can still prevail, unless Parliament overrides it later.
📌 Example:
If the President issues a regulation on land reforms in Lakshadweep, that regulation will have the same legal status as an Act of Parliament in that UT — even without going through Parliament.
🔁 Related Articles:
| Article | Subject |
|---|---|
| 239 | General administration of Union Territories |
| 239A | Legislature and CM for Puducherry |
| 239AA | Special status for Delhi (NCT) |
| 240 | President's power to legislate for certain UTs |
🧠 In Simple Words:
Article 240 allows the President to act as Parliament for Union Territories that do not have legislatures, ensuring they are governed by rules even without an assembly.
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