48th Amendment1984Official source

The Constitution (Forty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1984

Overview

Official citationAct 48 of 1984Enacting authorityParliament of IndiaPublished13 August 1984Commenced26 August 1984As atThis is the version of this document from 13 August 1984.Sections (total / operative)2 / 1

Articles amended

  • 356

The Proclamation issued by the President under article 356 of the Constitution on the 6th day of October, 1983 with respect to the State of Punjab cannot be continued in force for more than one year unless the special conditions mentioned in clause (5) of article 356 of the Constitution are satisfied.

Statement of Objects and Reasons

Statement of Objects and Reasons appended to the Constitution (Fiftieth Amendment) Bill, 1984 which was enacted as THE CONSTITUTION (Forty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1984

The Proclamation issued by the President under article 356 of the Constitution on the 6th day of October, 1983 with respect to the State of Punjab cannot be continued in force for more than one year unless the special conditions mentioned in clause (5) of article 356 of the Constitution are satisfied. Although the Legislative Assembly is in suspended animation and a popular government can be installed, having regard to the prevailing situation in the State, the continuance of the Proclamation beyond 5th October, 1984 may be necessary. To facilitate the adoption of a resolution by the two Houses of Parliament approving the continuance in force of the Proclamation beyond 5th October, 1984, it is necessary to amend article 356 of the Constitution. It is therefore proposed to amend clause (5) of article 356 so as to make the conditions mentioned therein inapplicable for the purposes of the continuance in force of the said Proclamation up to a period of two years from the date of its issue.

An Act further to amend the Constitution of India.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-fifth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-

Short title

This Act may be called the Constitution (Forty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1984.

Amendment of article 356

In article 356 of the Constitution, in clause (5), the following proviso shall be inserted at the end namely:-

`Provided that in the case of the Proclamation issued under clause (1) on the 6th day of October, 1983 with respect to the State of Punjab, the reference in this clause to "any period beyond the expiration of one year" shall be construed as a reference to "any period beyond the expiration of two years".'.