Home The Constitution Part V Article 109

Art. 109 Part V: The Union

Special Procedure in Respect of Money Bills

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) A Money Bill shall not be introduced in the Council of States. (2) After a Money Bill has been passed by the House of the People it shall be transmitted to the Council of States for its recommendations... (4) If the Council of States does not return the Bill to the House of the People within the said period of fourteen days, it shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses at the expiration of the said period in the form in which it was passed by the House of the People.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article establishes the Lok Sabha's decisive dominance over Money Bills — such bills can ONLY be introduced in the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha has just 14 days to make RECOMMENDATIONS (not binding amendments) before the bill is deemed passed in whatever form the Lok Sabha approved, with or without the Rajya Sabha's input actually being accepted.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why the Rajya Sabha has essentially no real power to block or substantially alter a genuine Money Bill (like a Finance Bill implementing the Budget) — a deliberate design ensuring the directly-elected House retains ultimate control over the government's finances.

Landmark Cases

How courts have interpreted this Article

Rojer Mathew v. South Indian Bank Ltd.(2020) 6 SCC 1 — Raised significant questions about whether certain legislation had been improperly classified as a 'Money Bill' specifically to bypass the Rajya Sabha's fuller scrutiny — an issue of ongoing constitutional debate about the proper limits of Article 110's Money Bill definition. Verify this case

Read alongside this one

Art. 110 — Definition of 'Money Bills'

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 109

Can the Rajya Sabha ever actually stop a Money Bill?

Not through this specific procedure — its role is limited to non-binding recommendations within 14 days; the Lok Sabha can accept or reject those recommendations, and either way the bill proceeds.

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The text above reproduces Article 109 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.