Definition of “Money Bills”
Article 110 — Definition of “Money Bills”
Chapter, a Bill shall be deemed to be a Money Bill if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters, namely:—
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(a) the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax;
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(b) the regulation of the borrowing of money or the giving of any guarantee by the Government of India, or the amendment of the law with respect to any financial obligations undertaken or to be undertaken by the Government of India;
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(c) the custody of the Consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of moneys into or the withdrawal of moneys from any such Fund;
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(d) the appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of India;
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(e) the declaring of any expenditure to be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or the increasing of the amount of any such expenditure;
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(f) the receipt of money on account of the Consolidated Fund of India or the public account of India or the custody or issue of such money or the audit of the accounts of the Union or of a State; or
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(g) any matter incidental to any of the matters specified in sub-clauses (a) to (f). (2) A Bill shall not be deemed to be a Money Bill by reason only that it provides for the imposition of fines or other pecuniary penalties, or for the demand or payment of fees for licences or fees for services rendered, or by reason that it provides for the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax by any local authority or body for local purposes. (3) If any question arises whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not, the decision of the Speaker of the House of the People thereon shall be final. (4) There shall be endorsed on every Money Bill when it is transmitted to the Council of States under article 109, and when it is presented to the President for assent under article 111, the certificate of the Speaker of the House of the People signed by him that it is a Money Bill.
Plain English Summary
This article defines what a "Money Bill" is in the Indian Parliament. A bill is considered a Money Bill if it deals primarily with subjects like taxes, government borrowing, or managing the money held by the government's funds (Consolidated Fund). This classification is important because it gives Parliament special powers when dealing with financial matters.
Key Points
- A Bill is a Money Bill if it concerns taxation, government borrowing, handling of the Consolidated Fund, or appropriations of money.
- It specifically excludes bills that only deal with fines, fees for services, or taxes imposed by local bodies.
- The Speaker of the House of the People has the final decision on whether a Bill is a Money Bill.
- A certificate signed by the Speaker must be attached to a Money Bill when it goes to the Council of States or the President.
Why It Matters
This definition determines the legislative procedure followed for financial legislation, ensuring that matters concerning the government's finances are handled efficiently within Parliament.
Landmark Judgements
No major landmark judgements.