Part XI
Article 253

Legislation for giving effect to international agreements

Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, Parliament has power to make any law for the whole or any part of the territory of India for implementing any treaty, agreement or convention with any other country or countries or any decision made at any international conference, association or other body.

VERSION 1

Article 230, Draft Constitution of India (1948)

Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, Parliament has power to make any law for any State or part thereof for implementing any treaty, agreement or convention with any other country or countries.

VERSION 2

Article 253, Constitution of India, 1950

Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, Parliament has power to make any law for the whole or any part of the territory of India for implementing any treaty, agreement or convention with any other country or countries or any decision made at any international conference, association or other body.

SUMMARY

Draft Article 230 (Article 253) was discussed in the Constituent Assembly on 13 June 1949 and 14 October 1949. The Draft Article gave the Union Parliament the exclusive power to make laws for any part of India’s territory in order to implement any treaty, agreement or convention involving one or more countries.

On 13 June 1949, the Assembly President moved an amendment to replace the words ‘for any State or part thereof‘ with ‘for the whole or any part of the territory of India‘; This amendment was adopted without any debate on this day. Then on 14 October 1949, a member proposed that the following words be added at the end of the Draft Article ‘or any decision made at any international conference, association or other body.’ This amendment too was adopted without any debate.