Article 123 of the Constitution provides for the issue of an ordinance by the President subject to the condition that Parliament approves the ordinance within six weeks of its next meeting. This provision has been enshrined in the Constitution to ensure that an executive action is endorsed by Parliament, which alone is competent to enact acts which will be binding on the enforcing authorities. In light of the fact that elections are afoot and a change in the composition of Parliament is possible, executive lawmakers now do not have the moral right to issue ordinances, which can only be approved by a new Parliament. It is for this reason that the Constitution provides for a vote-on-account moved by the outgoing government for expenditure during the new financial year only for four months and expects the new Parliament to pass a Finance Bill as per its strategic planning and thinking. As the composition of the new Parliament will be different, the ordinance route should be sparingly used by existing lawmakers.
P. Esakki Muthu,
Chennai
COMMents
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