Home The Constitution Part IXA Article 243ZC

Art. 243ZC Part IXA: The Municipalities

Part Not to Apply to Certain Areas

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Nothing in this Part shall apply to the Scheduled Areas referred to in clause (1), and the tribal areas referred to in clause (2), of article 244. (2) Nothing in this Part shall affect the functions and powers of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council constituted under any law for the time being in force for the hill areas of the district of Darjeeling in the State of West Bengal. (3) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may, by law, extend the provisions of this Part to the Scheduled Areas and the tribal areas...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

The Municipal counterpart to Article 243M — exempts Scheduled/tribal areas (governed by the Fifth/Sixth Schedule framework instead), and specifically preserves the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council's distinct existing arrangement for that specific West Bengal hill region, from this Part's standard urban local government requirements.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is a good illustration of how the Constitution's local governance framework accommodates genuinely distinct regional arrangements — the Darjeeling Hill Council's specific carve-out shows this isn't a rigid, one-size-fits-all system even within a single state like West Bengal.

Read alongside this one

Art. 243m — Part Not to Apply to Certain Areas — Panchayats

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 243ZC

Why is Darjeeling specifically named in this Article?

The Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council has its own long-standing, distinct governance arrangement reflecting the hill region's unique administrative history, which this Article specifically preserves rather than overriding with the standard Municipal framework.

← PreviousArticle 243ZB: Application to Union Territories Next →Article 243ZD: Committee for District Planning

The text above reproduces Article 243ZC 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.