Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardState Polity, Administration, and Governance

Consider the following statements regarding the powers and constitutional position of the Governor of a State in India:

1. Unlike the President of India, the Constitution of India explicitly provides for situations where the Governor may act in their personal discretion.
2. If any question arises whether a matter falls within the Governor's constitutional discretion, the decision of the Governor is final and its validity cannot be questioned in court.
3. The pardoning power of the Governor under Article 161 extends to sentences awarded by a Court Martial, provided the offense relates to a matter within the executive power of the State.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Answer

The statements asserting that the Constitution explicitly provides for Governor's discretion (Statement 1) and that the Governor's decision on discretion is final and non-questionable (Statement 2) are correct. The statement regarding Court Martial pardoning power (Statement 3) is incorrect.
The correct answer identifies that Statements 1 and 2 are true while Statement 3 is false. Under Article 163(1), the Constitution explicitly authorizes the Governor to act in their discretion in specific matters, a provision absent in Article 74 for the President. Article 163(2) protects the Governor's discretionary decisions from being challenged on the grounds of whether discretion was warranted. Conversely, Article 161 limits the Governor's pardoning powers, explicitly excluding sentences handed down by Court Martial proceedings, which fall solely under Presidential authority per Article 72.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Statement 1 regarding explicit constitutional discretion.
Statement 1 is correct. Article 163(1) explicitly specifies that the Governor acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers except in so far as he is by or under the Constitution required to exercise his functions or any of them in his discretion. Article 74 does not contain similar explicit wording for the President.
Establishing the constitutional distinction between Presidential and Gubernatorial discretionary provisions.
2
Analyze Statement 2 regarding judicial review and finality of Gubernatorial discretion.
Statement 2 is correct. Article 163(2) mandates that if any question arises whether any matter is or is not a matter where the Governor is required to act in his discretion, the decision of the Governor in his discretion shall be final, and the validity of anything done shall not be called in question on the ground that he ought or ought not to have acted in his discretion.
Evaluating constitutional finality provisions under Article 163(2).
3
Analyze Statement 3 regarding Court Martial pardoning powers.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Under Article 161, the Governor can grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions for offenses against laws relating to matters to which executive power of the State extends. However, the power to grant pardon for sentences awarded by a Court Martial belongs exclusively to the President of India under Article 72.
Differentiating between Presidential (Art 72) and Gubernatorial (Art 161) pardoning power scope.

Key Concept

Constitutional Discretion and Pardoning Powers of the State Governor (Articles 161 and 163)
Rate this question

Topics

State Polity, Administration, and Governance

More questions from this topic