Jurisdiction of the Union in relation to territories outside India
Quick Summary (TL;DR)
Article 260 (Jurisdiction of the Union in relation to territories outside India): Governs federal legislative and administrative division of powers between the Union and States under Part XI.
In Simple Citizen Words
Article 260 ('Jurisdiction of the Union in relation to territories outside India') in Part XI (Relations between the Union and the States) structures Indian federalism. It governs territorial and subject-matter jurisdiction under the Union, State, and Concurrent Lists of the Seventh Schedule, GST concurrent powers (Art 246A), residuary powers (Art 248), inconsistency/repugnancy rules (Art 254), inter-state river water disputes (Art 262), or the Inter-State Council (Art 263). Specifically: The Government of India may by agreement with the Government of any territory not being part of the territory of India undertake any executive, legislative or judicial functions vested in the Government of such territory, but every such...
Key Constitutional Provisions
Constitutional Mandate (Art. 260): Directly codifies the legal rule for 'Jurisdiction of the Union in relation to territories outside India' under Part XI
Sets a direct, self-contained constitutional command binding on public authorities across India
Any administrative or legislative action violating Article 260 can be challenged before the High Court (Art. 226) or Supreme Court
Exceptions & Reasonable Restrictions
Federalism is part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution (S.R. Bommai v. Union of India, 1994); neither the Union nor the States can usurp the exclusive legislative domain assigned to the other.
Why This Matters in Daily Life
Clarifies which government (Central or State) is responsible and accountable for every law, tax, and public service affecting your life.
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