Constitution of India · Section Article 204
Appropriation Bills
Article 204 — Appropriation Bills
article 203 have been made by the Assembly, there shall be introduced a Bill to provide for the appropriation out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of all moneys required to meet—
- (a) the grants so made by the Assembly; and
- (b) the expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State but not exceeding in any case the amount shown in the statement previously laid before the House or Houses. (2) No amendment shall be proposed to any such Bill in the House or either House of the Legislature of the State which will have the effect of varying the amount or altering the destination of any grant so made or of varying the amount of any expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State, and the decision of the person presiding as to whether an amendment is inadmissible under this clause shall be final. (3) Subject to the provisions of articles 205 and 206, no money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of the State except under appropriation made by law passed in accordance with the provisions of this article.
Plain English Summary
This article deals with how a state government legally gets the money it needs to spend. It states that before spending public money, the state assembly must pass a specific law (an Appropriation Bill) to authorize that spending from the state's main fund.
Key Points
- The State Assembly must introduce a Bill to request money for two things: grants already made and approved expenditures.
- The Bill can only cover amounts previously shown or authorized.
- No changes can be made to this Bill in the legislature that would change how much money is spent or where it goes, except by the presiding officer's final decision.
- Money cannot be taken from the state's main fund unless it is approved by a law made under this article.
Why It Matters
This process ensures that public money is spent legally and transparently, providing a formal legal basis for government expenditure.
Landmark Judgements
No major landmark judgements.