Home The Constitution Part XII Article 284

Art. 284 Part XII: Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits

Custody of Suitors' Deposits and Other Moneys Received by Public Servants and Courts

Exact text — Constitution of India

All moneys received by or deposited with—(a) any officer employed in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a State in his capacity as such, other than revenues or public moneys raised or received by the Government of India or the Government of the State, as the case may be, or (b) any court within the territory of India to the credit of any cause, matter, account or persons, shall be paid into the public account of India or the public account of the State, as the case may be.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article ensures that money deposited with courts or government officials — but which isn't actually government revenue (like a litigant's court deposit, or money held pending a legal dispute's resolution) — is still properly accounted for through the public account system, rather than being handled outside any formal financial oversight.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why, if you've ever deposited money with a court (for instance, as security in a legal proceeding), that money is handled through a formal government accounting mechanism rather than sitting informally with an individual official — a safeguard for litigants' and depositors' money.

Read alongside this one

Art. 266 — Consolidated Funds and Public Accounts

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 284

Does this mean the government 'owns' money I've deposited with a court pending my case?

No — it's held in trust through the public account system for proper custody and accounting purposes, but it remains connected to your specific case/matter and is meant to be returned or applied according to the court's eventual decision, not treated as general government revenue.

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The text above reproduces Article 284 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.