Article 251 of Indian Constitution, Interpretation, Significance

Article 251 of the Constitution of India manages the conflicts that come in between the laws made by the Parliament under Article 249 and 250 and the ones created by the state legislature. When such conflicts come up, the laws made by the Parliament have more power and the state laws become invalid. Article 251 makes that the government functions properly under every circumstance including the emergency. In this article, we are going to cover Article 251, its interpretation and significance. 

Article 251 of the Constitution of India

The Constitution of India states the following about Article 251:

Inconsistency between laws made by Parliament under articles 249 and 250 and laws made by the Legislatures of States

Nothing in articles 249 and 250 shall restrict the power of the Legislature of a State to make any law which under this Constitution it has power to make, but if any provision of a law made by the legislature of a State is repugnant to any provision of a law made by Parliament which Parliament has under either of the said articles power to make, the law made by Parliament, whether passed before or after the law made by the legislature of the State, shall prevail, and the law made by the Legislature of the State shall to the extent of the repugnancy, but so long only as the law made by Parliament continues to have effect, be inoperative.

Note: “The information is referred from the official website of the Indian Code and is for reference only. Original laws and orders remain untouched.

Article 251 of Indian Constitution Interpretation 

Article 251 of the Constitution of India deals with the problems that arise in between the parliamentary laws made under Article 249, 250 and the state legislatures on the same subjects. The decisions of the Parliament prevail over others when conflict arises, making sure there is uniformity in legislative matters of national importance. 

Article 251 is important especially during emergencies. It helps in establishing a consistent and effective legal framework in India and prioritises national interest to balance and establish the autonomy of state legislature with the need of a unified legal system, smooth and effective governance. 

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Article 251 of Constitution of India Significance

Article 251 of the Constitution of India is important due to the following reasons: 

• Addresses inconsistencies between Parliamentary laws made under Articles 249 and 250 and existing State laws.
• Ensures that Union laws override State laws in matters of national interest or during emergencies.
• Promotes coherence and consistency in legislation, particularly on subjects from the Union List.
• Plays a vital role when Parliament enacts laws using special powers during national or state emergencies.
• Provides a mechanism to harmonize state autonomy with national priorities.
• Enhances the efficiency of governance by empowering the Centre to act decisively in exceptional situations.