Executive power of the Union
Article 53 — Executive power of the Union
shall be vested in the President and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with this Constitution. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the supreme command of the Defence Forces of the Union shall be vested in the President and the exercise thereof shall be regulated by law. (3) Nothing in this article shall—
- (a) be deemed to transfer to the President any functions conferred by any existing law on the Government of any State or other authority; or
- (b) prevent Parliament from conferring by law functions on authorities other than the President.
Plain English Summary
This article states that the power to run the government (executive power) of the entire country rests with the President. The President can carry out this power either personally or by using officials who report to them, following the rules set by the Constitution.
Key Points
- The President holds the main executive power for the Union (the whole country).
- This power can be exercised directly by the President or through officers under their command.
- The supreme command of all Defence Forces belongs to the President, and how this command is used must be decided by a law.
- Parliament can give powers to other bodies besides the President.
Why It Matters
This article establishes the President as the central figure in the executive branch, ensuring that the government of the nation is clearly headed.
Landmark Judgements
No major landmark judgements.