Question

Difficulty: HardUnion Executive: President, Vice-President, PM, and Council of Ministers

With reference to the Constitutional powers and executive role of the President of India, consider the following statements:

1. The power of the President to grant pardons under Article 72 extends to sentences imposed by a Court Martial, whereas the Governor possesses no such power under Article 161.
2. The 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978 made the advice tendered by the Council of Ministers unconditionally binding on the President upon first submission.
3. Under Article 78, it is the constitutional duty of the Prime Minister to furnish such information relating to the administration of affairs of the Union as the President may call for.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1 and 3 onlyAnswer
  2. B
    1 and 2 only
  3. C
    2 and 3 only
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

The correct answer is the option stating that only statements 1 and 3 are correct.
The option selecting statements 1 and 3 is correct. Under Article 72(1)(a), only the President possesses the authority to grant pardons for sentences awarded by a Court Martial. Under Article 78(b), the Prime Minister is constitutionally obligated to furnish administrative information requested by the President. Statement 2 is false because the 44th Amendment Act of 1978 empowered the President to return advice to the Council of Ministers for one-time reconsideration under Article 74(1).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate Statement 1 regarding pardoning power differences between the President and Governor.
Statement 1 is correct. Under Article 72, the President can grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions in all cases where the punishment is by a Court Martial. Article 161 does not confer court-martial pardoning powers on the Governor.
Constitutional provisions under Article 72 specifically delineate military court sentences within the exclusive domain of the Union Executive head.
2
Evaluate Statement 2 regarding the impact of the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act on Article 74.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The 42nd Amendment Act (1976) made ministerial advice binding on the President. The 44th Amendment Act (1978) amended Article 74(1) by adding a proviso that allows the President to require the Council of Ministers to reconsider such advice once, though the reconsidered advice remains binding.
The 44th Amendment restored a limited check by giving the President the power of reconsideration.
3
Evaluate Statement 3 regarding Presidential information rights under Article 78.
Statement 3 is correct. Article 78(b) explicitly establishes the duty of the Prime Minister to furnish information relating to the administration of the affairs of the Union and proposals for legislation as the President may call for.
Article 78 defines the communication link between the Prime Minister and the President.

Key Concept

Union Executive Constitutional Framework: Article 72, Article 74 (42nd and 44th Amendments), and Article 78
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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