Article 372 Constitution of India: Continuance in force of existing laws and their adaptation

Category of Bare Act Name of the Act Year of Promulgation
Civil Laws The CONSTITUTION OF INDIA 1975
Act Number Enactment Date Chapter Number
36 1975-04-26 21
Chapter Title Ministry Department
Official Language Ministry of Law And Justice Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms

(1) Notwithstanding the repeal by this Constitution of the enactments referred to in article 395 but subject to the other provisions of this Constitution, all the law in force in the territory of India immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall continue in force therein until altered or repealed or amended by a competent Legislature or other competent authority.

(2) For the purpose of brining the provisions of any law in force in the territory of India into accord with the provisions of this Constitution, the President may by order1 make such adaptations and modifications of such law, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as may be necessary or expedient, and provide that the law shall, as from such date as may be specified in the order, have effect subject to the adaptations and modifications so made, and any such adaptation or modification shall not be questioned in any court of law.

(3) Nothing in clause (2) shall be deemed-

(a) To empower the President to make any adaptation or modification of any law after the expiration of 2[three years] from the commencement of this Constitution; or

(b) To prevent any competent Legislature or other competent authority from repealing or amending any law adapted or modified by the President under the said clause.

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1. See the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950, dated the 26th January, 1950, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, p.449, as amended by Notification No. S.R.O. 115, dated the 5th June, 1950, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, p.51, Notification No. S.R.O. 870, dated the 4th November, 1950, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, p.903, Notification No. S.R.O. 508, dated the 4th April, 1951, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, p.287, Notification No. S.R.O. 1140B, dated the 2nd July, 1952, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, p.616/I; and the Adaptation of the Travancore-Cochin Land Acquisition Laws Order, 1952, dated the 20th November, 1952, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, section 3, p.923.

2. Subs. by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 12, for “two Years”.