Article 161 of the Constitution of India

E1021950

Article 161 of the Constitution of India grants state Governors the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment for offences against state laws.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf article of the Constitution of India
constitutional provision
aimsTo provide mercy and corrective justice in appropriate cases
appliesTo Governor of a State in India
offences against laws to which the executive power of the State extends
offences against state laws in India
basedOn principle of executive clemency
principle of separation of powers
bindingOn State Government of India NERFINISHED
cameIntoForceOn 26 January 1950
comparedWith Article 72 of the Constitution of India NERFINISHED
confersPower power to commute sentences
power to grant pardons
power to grant remissions of punishment
power to grant reprieves
power to grant respites
power to remit sentences
power to suspend sentences
constitutionalLevel state level
country India
distinguishedFrom Article 72 of the Constitution of India NERFINISHED
doesNotExtendTo court-martial cases under military law
death sentences imposed for offences under laws where the Union executive power extends
offences where the power of pardon lies with the President of India
foundIn Chapter II of Part VI of the Constitution of India
Part VI of the Constitution of India NERFINISHED
governs exercise of clemency powers by State Governors
grantsPowerTo Governor of a State in India
hasAuthorityOver sentences imposed under state laws
interpretedBy High Courts of India NERFINISHED
Supreme Court of India NERFINISHED
language English
legalEffect enables Governor to alter or extinguish criminal liability within State domain
provides constitutional basis for gubernatorial clemency
locatedInJurisdiction Republic of India NERFINISHED
originalLanguage English
partOf Constitution of India NERFINISHED
relatedConcept commutation of sentence
criminal justice system in India
pardon
remission
reprieve
respite
relatesTo executive power of the State
requires exercise of discretion by the Governor
subjectMatter clemency powers of the Governor
subjectTo judicial review on limited grounds
yearEnacted 1950

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Governor of Uttar Pradesh constitutionalArticle Article 161 of the Constitution of India
Governor of Karnataka constitutionalArticlesGoverningOffice Article 161 of the Constitution of India