Part III - Fundamental Rights • Article

Article 31B Simplified: Validation of certain Acts and Regulations

Article 31B validation of acts and regulations protects all laws put into the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. Once a law is in the Ninth Schedule, it is shielded and cannot be declared invalid by courts for violating Fundamental Rights.

Official Text

[Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in article 31A, none of the Acts and Regulations specified in the Ninth Schedule nor any of the provisions thereof shall be deemed to be void, or ever to have become void, on the ground that such Act, Regulation or provision is inconsistent with, or takes away or abridges any of the rights conferred by, any provisions of this Part, and notwithstanding any judgment, decree or order of any court or Tribunal to the contrary, each of the said Acts and Regulations shall, subject to the power of any competent Legislature to repeal or amend it, continue in force.]

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

Article 31B is like a 'Safe Zone' or a 'treasure chest' called the Ninth Schedule. If the government puts a rule inside this chest, nobody (not even a judge) can break it or say it's not allowed, even if it seems to go against some other rights.

Student Mode

Introduced by the 1st Constitutional Amendment (1951) along with the Ninth Schedule. It shields laws placed in the Ninth Schedule from judicial review. In the I.R. Coelho case (2007), the Supreme Court ruled that laws added after April 24, 1973, can still be challenged if they violate the 'Basic Structure' of the Constitution.

Example

The government put various agrarian and land reform laws, like the *UP Zamindari Abolition Act*, in the Ninth Schedule so that landlords could not challenge them in court.

Key Takeaway

Article 31B created the Ninth Schedule as a supreme shield to protect national development laws from court challenges.

FAQs

What is the Ninth Schedule?

A special list of laws in the Constitution that are shielded from judicial review under Article 31B.

Can laws in the Ninth Schedule be challenged in court today?

Yes. In the I.R. Coelho case (2007), the Supreme Court ruled that any law added to the Ninth Schedule after April 24, 1973, can be challenged if it violates the 'Basic Structure' of the Constitution.

Quiz

Which schedule of the Indian Constitution is associated with Article 31B?

Answer: Ninth Schedule

In which case did the Supreme Court rule that laws added to the Ninth Schedule after April 24, 1973, can be reviewed?

Answer: I.R. Coelho case