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Art. 373 Part XXI: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions

Power of President to Make Order in Respect of Persons Under Preventive Detention in Certain Cases

Exact text — Constitution of India

Until provision is made by Parliament under clause (7) of article 22, or until the expiration of one year from the commencement of this Constitution, whichever is earlier, the said article shall have effect as if for any reference to Parliament in clauses (4) and (7) thereof there were substituted a reference to the President and for any reference to any law made by Parliament in those clauses there were substituted a reference to an order made by the President.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

A one-year transitional provision letting the President exercise, by order, certain powers that Article 22's preventive detention framework normally reserves for Parliament — bridging the gap until Parliament itself could actually legislate on these specific preventive detention procedural matters shortly after the Constitution's commencement.
Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This Article's direct effect ended within its one-year window in 1951, once Parliament itself began legislating on preventive detention matters — it's now a purely historical transitional provision.

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Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 373

Is this Article still operative today?
No — its one-year window from 1950 expired in 1951, and Parliament has long since legislated on these matters directly under Article 22's ordinary framework.

The text above reproduces Article 373 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.