Special provision with respect to the State of Manipur

Quick Summary (TL;DR)

Article 371C (Special provision with respect to the State of Manipur): Special, transitional, and regional development provisions under Part XXI.

In Simple Citizen Words

Article 371C ('Special provision with respect to the State of Manipur') is part of Part XXI (Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions). It encompasses regional safeguards under the Article 371 series (Maharashtra/Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh/Telangana, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka) as well as constitutional continuity of pre-1950 laws, courts, and institutions (Arts 372–392). Specifically: (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may, by order made with respect to the State of Manipur, provide for the constitution and functions of a committee of the Legislative Assembly of the State consisting of...

Key Constitutional Provisions

Constitutional Mandate (Art. 371C): Directly codifies the legal rule for 'Special provision with respect to the State of Manipur' under Part XXI

Structured across 2 clause(s) with clear procedural conditions

Exercises of constitutional office under this article must follow aid, advice, and established constitutional conventions

Exceptions & Reasonable Restrictions

Under Article 372(1), all pre-Constitution laws continue in force only 'subject to the other provisions of this Constitution'—meaning any colonial-era law violating Fundamental Rights can be struck down under Article 13 (as in Navtej Singh Johar, 2018).

Why This Matters in Daily Life

Accommodates India's regional diversity and ensures seamless legal continuity from 1950 to the modern Republic.

Want deeper legal & historical context? Explore the official Bare Act or Supreme Court Precedents & CAD Debates:

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Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel & Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Architects of Asymmetric Federalism & Legal Transition • October 13–17, 1949 & Subsequent Amendments

🏛️ Constituent Assembly Debates (1946–1949)

Core Constitutional Debate & Dilemma

Framing context for Article 371C: Ensuring smooth legal transition from pre-1950 laws and courts (Arts 372–378) while accommodating unique regional, cultural, and developmental needs of frontier and newly integrated States (Art 371 series).

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"Unity in India does not mean uniformity that erases local heritage; our Constitution provides transitional continuity and tailored regional safeguards within one indivisible Republic."

Assembly Resolution & Final Synthesis

Constitutional resolution in Article 371C: Enacted Part XXI (Articles 369–392) governing transitional legal continuity (Art 372) and regional state safeguards across the Article 371–371J series.

🏛️ Constitutional Significance: During the Constituent Assembly deliberations, Article 371C was codified as an integral pillar of India's constitutional governance.

Official Constitutional Text (Gazette Bare Act)

Authoritative statutory text as enacted and amended by Parliament • Clause-by-Clause Statutory Breakdown

India Code • Govt. of India Archive

Clause (1)

Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may, by order made with respect to the State of Manipur, provide for the constitution and functions of a committee of the Legislative Assembly of the State consisting of members of that Assembly elected from the Hill Areas of that State, for the modifications to be made in the rules of business of the Government and in the rules of procedure of the Legislative Assembly of the State and for any special responsibility of the Governor in order to secure the proper functioning of such committee.

Clause (2)

The Governor shall annually, or whenever so required by the President, make a report to the President regarding the administration of the Hill Areas in the State of Manipur and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to the State as to the administration of the said areas.

Explanation.—In this article, the expression “Hill Areas” means such areas as the President may, by order, declare to be Hill areas.

Public Domain & Statutory Authenticity Notice

Under Section 52(1)(q) of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, the Constitution of India, Bare Acts of Parliament, Gazette Notifications, and Judicial Judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts are in the Public Domain. Text is reproduced from the official Legislative Department, Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India (India Code) archives.

Then vs Now: Constitutional Evolution & Visual Diff

Special provision with respect to the State of Manipur

🔵 Newly Inserted After 1950 (Via Amendment) Baseline: Jan 26, 1950 → Today

ORIGINAL BASELINE (1950)

Not present in the original Constitution of 26 January 1950. Article 371C did not exist in the 1950 text and was newly inserted into the Constitution by Parliament through the 27th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1971.

CURRENT ENFORCEABLE STATUS (TODAY)

Active & Enforceable Today (Inserted via the 27th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1971): Article 371C (Special provision with respect to the State of Manipur): Special, transitional, and regional development provisions under Part XXI.

Key Amendment Milestones & Textual Modifications

27th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1971 — Reorganization of North-Eastern States (Mizoram & Manipur)

Year 1971

Why it happened: Added Article 371C for Manipur’s Hill Areas Committee and empowered Union Territory legislatures in Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

                                    Inserted (239B, 371C): Reorganization of North-Eastern States (Mizoram & Manipur)                                

Article 371B Ask Nyaya Saarthi AI About This Article Article 371D

Emergency Citizen Helplines

Special provision with respect to the State of Manipur

Official Constitutional Text (Gazette Bare Act)

Then vs Now: Constitutional Evolution & Visual Diff

Key Amendment Milestones & Textual Modifications