Home The Constitution Part XIV Article 310

Art. 310 Part XIV: Services Under the Union and the States

Tenure of Office of Persons Serving the Union or a State

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Except as expressly provided by this Constitution, every person who is a member of a defence service or of a civil service of the Union or of an all-India service or holds any post connected with defence or any civil post under the Union holds office during the pleasure of the President, and every person who is a member of a civil service of a State or holds any civil post under a State holds office during the pleasure of the Governor of the State.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article establishes the foundational legal principle that most civil servants (and defence personnel) hold their positions 'during the pleasure of' the President or Governor — meaning, in a formal legal sense, they don't have an absolute right to continue in their post. However, this 'pleasure doctrine' is significantly constrained in practice by Article 311's procedural protections, which prevent it from being an arbitrary hire-and-fire power.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why, despite the formal 'pleasure' language, you can't simply be fired from a government job without due process — Article 310 sets the formal legal foundation, but Article 311 (the very next Article) provides the real, practical protection against arbitrary dismissal that actually governs how this plays out.

Landmark Cases

How courts have interpreted this Article

Union of India v. Tulsiram PatelAIR 1985 SC 1416 — Explained how Article 310's 'pleasure' doctrine and Article 311's procedural safeguards work together — the pleasure doctrine sets the formal legal relationship, but it operates subject to Article 311's due-process requirements except in the narrow exceptions that Article itself specifies. Verify this case

Read alongside this one

Art. 311 — Protection Against Arbitrary Dismissal

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 310

Does 'holding office at the President's pleasure' mean a civil servant can be fired at any time for any reason?

No, not in practice — while this is the formal legal doctrine, Article 311's procedural protections (a hearing before dismissal, with narrow exceptions) significantly constrain how this 'pleasure' can actually be exercised.

← PreviousArticle 309: Recruitment and Conditions of Service of Persons Serving the Union or a State Next →Article 311: Dismissal, Removal or Reduction in Rank of Persons Employed in Civil Capacities Under the Union or a State

The text above reproduces Article 310 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.