Saving of laws providing for acquisition of estates, etc.
- Source edition
- The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
- Source locator
- Part III, Article 31A, printed pages 16–17
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1. In One Sentence
Article 31A shields five categories of agrarian reform and economic management laws from being invalidated under Article 14 (Equality) or Article 19 (Freedoms).
2. What It Means in Everyday Language
Inserted by the First Amendment in 1951 to safeguard zamindari abolition and agrarian land reform laws from constitutional challenges under Articles 14 and 19.
It immunizes laws that provide for: (a) acquisition by the State of any estate or rights therein, (b) taking over the management of property for a limited period in public interest, (c) amalgamation of two or more corporations, (d) extinguishment or modification of rights of managing agents, directors, or shareholders, and (e) extinguishment or modification of rights under mining leases or mineral agreements.
For a State law to receive this immunity, it must have been reserved for the consideration of the President and received Presidential assent.
The second proviso guarantees that where land held within statutory ceiling limits is personally cultivated, the State cannot acquire it without paying market value compensation.
3. Practical Illustrative Example
A state legislature passes an agrarian reform act taking over large intermediary feudal estates to redistribute agricultural land to landless tenant farmers.
4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions
Article 31A provides targeted immunity to 5 specific economic categories rather than general immunity for all laws.
- Applies only against Article 14 and Article 19 challenges.
- State legislation must be reserved for the President and receive assent.
- Land under personal cultivation within statutory ceiling limits requires compensation not less than market value under the second proviso.
5. Operative Constitutional Text
6. Sources & Historical Assembly Deliberations
Assembly quotations are withheld until wording, dates, and attribution have been checked against the primary record.
- •Government of India (Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice) • Part III, Article 31A, printed pages 16–17 • Human source-link check pending
Primary PDF accessed and transcribed with AI assistance on 14 October 2026. Formatting and amendment annotation markers are omitted; operative wording is retained. This is not human legal review. Later amendments and commencement notifications have not been comprehensively checked.
