Case Study - Harishankar Bagla v. State of Madhya Pradesh
Case Study - Harishankar Bagla v. State of Madhya Pradesh
GANDHINAGAR
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
CASE STUDY
SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY
TABLE OF CONTENT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
1. INTRODUCTION
3. CONTENTION OF APPELLANT
4. CONTENTION OF RESPONDENT
5. STATUTES REFERRED
6. JUDGEMENT ANALYSIS
7. CONCLUSION
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my gratitude to all those who gave me the possibility to complete this
project. I want to thank the Assistant Professor of Law, Mr. Girish R. for giving me the
opportunity to complete this assignment, and to do the necessary research work. My senior
colleagues too supported me in my research work. I want to thank them for all their help,
support, interest and valuable hints.
Especially, I would like to give my special thanks to my family whose patient love, faith and
support enabled me to complete this work.
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Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
INTRODUCTION
2. Policy making and repeal of law power of legislature can be delegated or not and
what with the restriction ?
Delegated legislation has been defined by salmond as that which proceeds from any authority
other than the sovereign power and is therefore dependant for its continued existence and
validity on some superior or supreme authority. The power of subordinate legislation may be
given to the central Government or the state government depending upon whether the statutes
is a central or a state law. Sometimes both the central and the state governments derive rule
making power from the same act. Some statutes use the term appropriate government which
means the central government or the state government having in respect of the subject matter.
Delegated legislation is recognised by the constitution also. Article 13(3) defines law as
including any ordinance, order, bylaw, rule, regulation, and notification having the force of
law. It was held the words all laws in force in sub-cl(k) of article 371F of the constitution
include subordinate legislation such as Sikkim government establishment rules 1974.1
1
Sikkim v Surendra Prasad Sharma (1994) 5 SCC 282
4
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
Landmark case in concept of delegated legislation power in India- In Delhi Laws Act case2
observed that the expressions delegated legislation and delegating legislative power are
sometimes used in a liberal sense, and sometimes in a strict sense. These expressions have
been used in the loose sense or popular sense in the various treatises or reports dealing with
the so called delegated legislation. There can be no hesitation that if the Legislature
completely abdicates its functions and sets up a parallel Legislature transferring all its power
to it, that would undoubtedly be a real instance of delegation of its power. In other words,
there will be delegation in the strict sense if legislative power with all its attributes is
transferred to another authority. Delegated legislation is one of the most predictable parts of
administration. Along with being most significant, it was one of the most arguable issues in
India. According to the traditional theory, the function of the executive is administering the
law enacted by legislature and in ideal state the legislative power must be completely dealt by
the legislature. But due to increase in administrative function and shifting of the concept to
welfare state, they have to carry out certain legislative functions.
J. Mukherjee in this case said that- Delegated legislation is an expression that is confusing. It
is an excuse for legislatures, a shield for administrators and a provocation to the
constitutional jurists.
There are certain restriction made upon the power of delegated legislation for controlling and
restrict to do not perform the whole legislative power. In the Re Delhi Law Act case, it was
held by the majority decision that Executive has power of extending the act through
restrictions or modification but it doesnt have power to repeal or amend laws. Power to
repeal a law is essentially a legislative power and hence, delegating that to the Govt is at once
ultra vires the power to delegate. Essential legislation function cannot be delegated to the
executive.
When a legislation is made, the legislation policy should be framed by the legislature. The
executive cannot be delegated this power. The Legislature cannot delegate its functions of
laying down legislative policy in respect of a measure and its formulation as a rule of
2
[1951] S.C.R. 747
5
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
conduct. The legislature must declare the policy of the law and the legal principles which are
to control and given cases and must provide a standard to guide the officials of the body in
power to execute the law".
In dealing with the challenge the ultra-vires of any State on the ground of Excessive
delegation it is necessary to enquire whether - The impugned delegation involves the
delegation of an essential legislative functions or power
In Vasant lal case3. Subba Rao, J. observed as follows; "The constitution confers a power and
imposes a duty on the legislature to make laws. The essential legislative function is the
determination of the legislative policy and its formulation as a rule of conduct. Obviously it
cannot abdicate its functions in favour of another. But, in view of the multifarious activities
of a welfare State, it (the legislature) cannot presumably work out all the details to sit the
varying aspects of complex situations. It must necessarily delegate the working out of details
to the executive or any other agency. But there is a danger inherent in such a process of
delegation.
c) not set down any standard for the guidance of the executive;
d) confer and arbitrary power to the executive on change or modified the policy laid
down by it without reserving for itself any control over subordinate legislation.
Since delegated legislation forms a part of law, courts have the jurisdiction to examine them.
The courts have held that framing of legislative policy is an essential function and cannot be
delegated to an administrative body. Therefore the extent to which delegation is permissible
is well settled. The legislature cannot delegate its essential legislative policy and principle
and must afford guidance for carrying out the said policy before it delegates its delegates its
subsidiary powers in that behalf.
3
AIR 1961SC 04
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Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
2. Repeal of Law -In Re Delhi Law Act case laid down that the repeal and amendment
of law cannot be done through delegated legislation. It is clearly shows that repeal and
amendment of a law is an essential legislation function.
Power of Parliament to repeal law Under the provision to clause (2) of Article 254,
Parliament can enact at any time any law with respect to the same matter including a law
adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislature of the State,
Ordinarily, the Parliament would not have the power to repeal a law passed by the State
Legislature even though it is a law with respect to one of the matters enumerated in the
Concurrent List. Section 107 of the Government of India Act, 1935 did not contain any such
power. Art. 254 (2) of the Constitution of India is in substance a reproduction of section 107
of the 1935 Act, the concluding portion whereof being incorporated in a proviso with further
additions. Now, by the proviso to Art. 254 (2), the Indian Constitution has enlarged the
powers of Parliament and, under that proviso, Parliament can do what the Central Legislature
could not do under section 107 of the Government of India Act, and can enact a law adding
to, amending, varying or repealing a law of the State when it relates to a matter mentioned in
the concurrent List. Therefore the Parliament can, acting under the proviso to Art. 254 (2)
repeal a State Law. While the proviso does confer on Parliament a power to repeal a law
passed by the State Legislature, this power is subject to certain limitations. It is limited to
enacting a law with respect to the same matter adding to, amending, varying or repealing a
law so made by the State Legislature. The law referred to here is the law mentioned in the
body of Art. 254 (2), It is a law made by the State Legislature with reference to a matter in the
Concurrent List containing provisions repugnant to an earlier law made by Parliament and
with the consent to an earlier law made by Parliament and with the consent of the President.
It is only such a law that can be altered, amended, repealed under the proviso. The power of
repeal conferred by the proviso can be exercised by Parliament alone and cannot be delegated
to an executive authority. The repeal of a statute means that the repealed statute must be
regarded as if it had never been on the statute book. It is wiped out from the statute book.
In the case of Delhi Laws Act, 1951 SCR 747, it was held that to repeal or abrogate an
existing law is the exercise of an essential legislative power. Parliament, being supreme, can
certainly make a law abrogating or repealing by implication provisions of any pre-existing
law and no exception can be taken on the ground of excessive delegation to the Act of the
Parliament itself.
7
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
The appellant, Harishankar Bengal, and his wife, Smt. Gomti Bagla, were arrested at Itarsi,
by the Railway Police on the 29th November, 1948, for contravention of section 7 of the
Essential Supplies (temporary Powers) Act, 1946, read with clause (3) of the Cotton Textiles
(Control of Movement) Order, 1948, having been found in possession of "new cotton cloth"
weighing over six maunds which cloth, it was alleged, was being taken by them from
Bombay to Kanpur without any permit.
On the 3rd September, 1951, the chalan passed the case was eventually withdrawn by the High
Court to itself, as it involved a decision of constitutional issues. By its order dated the 15th
September, 1952, the High Court upheld the provisions of sections 3 and 4 of the Essential
Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act, 1946, as constitutional.
It also upheld the constitutionality of the impugned Order. Section 6 of the Act was held to be
inconsistent with the provisions of the Railway Act but it was held that its unconstitutionality
did not affect the prosecution in this case.
The High Court directed that the prosecution should proceed and the records sent back to the
trial Court for being dealt with in accordance with law Leave to appeal was given both to the
appellants and the respondent and requisite certificates under articles 132 and 134 of the
Constitution were granted.
This appeal along with the connected appeal No. 6 of 1953 is before Supreme Court on the
basis of the said certificates.
1. That section 3 and 4 of the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act, 1946, and the
provisions of the Cotton Cloth Control Order contravened the fundamental right of the
appellants guaranteed by article 19(1)(f) and (g) of the Constitution;
2. That section 3 of the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act, 1946, and in
particular section 4 were ultra vires, the Legislature on the ground of excessive
delegation of legislative power;
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Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
3. That section 6 having been found ultra vires, section 3 was inextricably connected
with it and that both the sections should have been declared ultra vires on that ground;
and
4. That the impugned Control Order contravened existing laws, viz., the provisions of
sections 27, 28 and 41 of the Indian Railways Act, and was thus void in its entirety.
1. The respondent challenged the judgment of the High Court that section 6 of the Act
was unconstitutional.
The Relevant Statutory Provisions That Applied In This Case Are As Follows-
Sections 3 and 4 of the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act. 1946, provide as follows-
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the power conferred by sub-section (1), an order
made there under may provide -
(a) for regulating by licences, permits or otherwise the production or manufacture of any
essential commodity;..........
(d) for regulating by licences, permits or otherwise the storage, transport, distribution,
disposal, acquisition, use or consumption of any essential commodity;.........
Section 4. The Central Government may by notified order direct that the power to make
orders under section 3 shall, in relation to such matters and subject to such conditions, if any,
as may be specified in the direction, be exercisable also by -
9
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
(b) such State Government or such officer or authority subordinate to a State Government as
may be specified in the direction."
"6. Any order made under section 3 shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent
therewith contained in any enactment other than this Act or any instrument having effect by
virtue of any enactment other than this Act."
Section 2 of this order defines the expressions "apparel," "carrier," "hosiery," "cloth" and
"textile commissioner."
Section 3. No person shall transport or course to be transported by rail, road, air, sea or inland
navigation any cloth, yarn or apparel except under and in accordance with -
(i) a general permit notified in the Gazette of India by the Textile Commissioner, or
Section 8 provides that the Textile Commissioner may, by notification in the Gazette of
Indian, prescribe the manner in which any application for a special transport permit under this
Order shall be made. The Central Government has prescribed forms for application for
obtaining permits and the conditions under which permits can be obtained.
JUDGEMENT ANALYSIS -
Judgement delivered by the Mehr Chand Mahajan, C.J.; constitutional bench consist of
Mukherjea, Vivian Bose, N.H. Bhagwati and T.L. Venkatarama Aiyyar, JJ.
10
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
1. Upon the first contention made by appellant was that the provisions of section 3 of the
Control Order violated the rights of a citizen guaranteed in sub-clauses (f) and (g) of article
19(1) of the Constitution. These sub-clauses recognise the right of a citizen to dispose of
property and to carry on trade or business. The condition of a permit to transport by rail
cotton textiles to a certain extent operates as a restriction on the rights of a person who is
engaged in the business of purchase and sale of cotton textiles. Clause (5) of article 19
however permits such restriction to be placed provided they are in the public interest.
Supreme court relying upon the contention said that during the period of emergency it was
essential to impose control on the production, supply and distribution of commodities
essential to the life of the community. It was for this basis that the Legislature passed the
Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act authorising the Central Government to make
orders from time to time controlling the production, supply and distribution of essential
commodities.
The supreme court further stated that clause 3 of the Control Order does not take away a
citizen of the right to dispose of or transport cotton textiles purchased by him. It requires him
to take a permit from the Textile Commissioner to allow him to transport them. The
requirement of a permit in this regard cannot be regarded as an unreasonable restriction on
the citizen's right under sub-clauses (f) and (g) of article 19(1).
Supreme court validate the decision passed by High Court to negative the contention raised
regarding the invalidity of the Control Order as abridging the rights of the citizen under
article 19(1) of the Constitution.
2. The appellant further argued that the Textile Commissioner had been given unregulated
and arbitrary discretion to refuse or to grant a permit, and that on grounds related to those on
which in Dwarka Prasad v. The State of Uttar Pradesh; 4
In this case, court declared void section 4(3) of the Uttar Pradesh Coal Control Order,
section 3 of the Control Order in question should also be declared void.
4
A.I.R. 1954 S.C. 225
11
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
In the first place, the appellants never applied for a permit and made no efforts to get one. If
the permit had been applied for and refused arbitrarily they might than have had a right to hit
the law on the ground that it gave arbitrary and unregulated power in the textile
commissioner.
The Appellants were transporting essential goods by rail without a permit and the only
manner they can get any relief is by attacking the section which obliges them to take a permit
before they can transport by rail essential commodities.
It may also be pointed out that reference to the decision of this Court in Dwarka Prasad's
case, is not very relevant and has no bearing on the present case. Section 4(3) of the Uttar
Pradesh Coal Control Order was declared void on the ground that it dedicated to the
unrestrained will of a single individual to grant, withhold or cancel licences in any way he
chose and there was nothing in the Order which could guarantee a proper execution of the
power or operate as a check upon injustice that might result from improper execution of the
same. Section 4(3) of the Uttar Pradesh Coal Control Order was in these terms :
"The Licensing Authority may grant, refuse to grant, renew or refuse to renew a licence and
may suspend, cancel, revoke or modify any licence or any terms thereof granted by him under
the Order for reasons to be recorded. Provided that every power which under this Order
exercisable by the Licensing Authority shall also be exercisable by the State Coal Controller,
or any person authorized by him in this behalf."5
In the present Control Order there is no such provision as existed in the Uttar Pradesh Coal
Control Order, Provisions of that Control Order bear no analogy to the provisions of the
present Control Order.
The policy underlying the Order is to regulate the transport of cotton textile in a way that will
make sure an even distribution of the commodity in the country and make it available at a fair
price to all.
The grant or refuse of a permit is thus to be governed by this policy and the discretion given
to the Textile Commissioner is to be exercised in such a way as to effectuate this policy. The
conferment of such a discretion cannot be called invalid and if there is an abuse of the power
there is ample power in the Courts to undo the mischief. Most probably, as appears from the
5
Pg. no. 6, judgement of Harishankar Bagla v. State of M.P
12
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
different forms published in the Manual, there are directions and rules laid down by the
Central Government for the grant or refusal of permits.
3. Upon the next contention of appellant that section 3 of the Essential Supplies 2(Temporary
Powers) Act, 1946, amounts to delegation of Legislative power outside the permitted limits is
again without any good point.
It was settled by the majority judgment in the Delhi Laws Act case6, that essential powers of
legislation cannot be delegated. In other words, the legislature cannot delegate its function of
laying down legislative policy in respect of a measure and its formulation as a rule of
conduct. The Legislature must make known the policy of the law and the legal principles
which are to control any given cases and must provide a standard to guide the officials or the
body in power to execute the law. The essential legislative function consists in the
determination of the legislative policy and of formally enacting that policy into a binding rule
no conduct.
In the present case the legislature has laid down such a principle and that principle is the
maintenance or increase in supply of essential commodities and of securing equitable
distribution and availability at fair prices. The principle is understandable and offers adequate
guidance to the Central Government in exercising its powers under section 3.
Delegation of the kind mentioned in section 3 was upheld before the Constitution in a number
of decisions of their Lordships of the Privy Council, vide Russell v. The Queen7, Hodge v.
The Queen8, and Shannon v. Lower Mainland Dairy Products Board9, and since the coming
into force of the Constitution delegation of this character has been upheld in a number of
decisions of this Court on principles enunciated by the majority in the Delhi Laws Act case
As already pointed out, the preamble and the body of the sections sufficiently formulate the
legislative policy and the ambit and character of the Act is such that the details of that policy
can only be worked out by delegating them to a subordinate authority within the framework
of that policy.
6
[1951] S.C.R. 747
7
7 A.C. 829
8
9 A.C. 117
9
[1938] A.C. 708
13
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
Appellant could not very seriously press the question of the invalidity of section 3 of the Act
and it is unnecessary therefore to consider this question in greater detail.
Section 4 of the Act was attacked on the ground that it empowers the Central Government to
delegate its own power to make orders under section 3 to any officer or authority subordinate
to it or the Provincial Government or to any office or authority subordinate to the Provincial
Government as specified in the direction given by the Central Government. In other words,
the delegate has been authorized to further delegate its powers in respect of the exercise of
the powers of section 3.
Appellant contended that it was for the Legislature itself to specify the particular authorities
or officers who could exercise power under section 3 and it was not open to the Legislature to
empower the Central Government to say what officer or authority could exercise the power.
Reference in this connection was made to two decisions of the Supreme Court of the United
10
States of America - Panama Refining Co. v. Ryan and Schechter v. United States11. In both
these cases it was held that so long as the policy is laid down and a standard established by a
statue, no unconstitutional delegation of legislative power is involved in leaving to selected
instrumentalities the making of subordinate rules within prescribed limits and the
determination of facts to which the policy as declared by the Legislature is to apply.
The supreme court relied upon the argument and said that section 4 enumerates the classes of
persons to whom the power could be delegated or sub-delegated by the Central Government
and it is not correct to say that the instrumentalities have not been selected by the Legislature
itself.
The decision of their Lordships of the Privy Council in Shannon's case12, completely
negatives the contention raised regarding the invalidity of section 4.
In that case the Lt. Governor in Council was given power to vest in a marketing board the
powers conferred by section 4A(d) of the Natural Products Marketing (British Columbia)
Act, 1936. The attack on the Act was that without constitutional authority it delegated
10
293 U.S. 388
11
295 U.S. 495
12
1938 A.C. 708
14
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
legislative power to the Lt.-Governor in Council. This contention was answered by their
Lordships in these terms :
"The third objection is that it is not within the powers of the Provincial Legislature to
delegate so-called legislative powers to the Lt.-Governor in Council, or to give him powers
of further delegation. This objection appears to their Lordships subversive of the rights which
the Provincial Legislature enjoys while dealing with matters falling within the classes of
subjects in relating to within the Constitution has granted legislative powers. Within its
appointed sphere the Provincial Legislature is as supreme as any other Parliament; and it is
unnecessary to try to enumerate the innumerable occasions on which Legislatures,
Provincial, Dominion and Imperial, have entrusted various persons and bodies with similar
powers to those contained in this Act."13
4. The next contention of the appellant that the provisions of the Textiles Control Order
operate as an implied repeal of section 27, 28 and 41 of the Indian Railways Act and are as a
result invalid is also not well founded.
Upon this contention supreme court said that the necessity of a permit by clause (3) and
provisions of clause (4) of the Order which empower the Textile Commissioner to direct a
carrier to close the booking or transport of cloth, apparel, etc., are not in direct inconsistency
with sections 27, 28 and 41 of the Railways Act.
The Railways Act does not exclude the placing of a disability on a railway administration by
the Government or any other authority. This clause just supplements the important provisions
of the Railways Act and does not supersede them. Similar observations apply to clause (5)
which enables the Textile Commissioner to place an embargo on the transport of certain
textiles from one area to another. There is nothing in the provisions of the order which in any
way overrides or supersedes the provisions of the different sections of the Railways Act
referred to above.
5. The last contention of appellant that section 6 having been confirmed invalid, section 3 is
inextricably mixed with it and should also have been declared invalid is also not valid,
because apart from the grounds given by the High Court for holding that the two sections
were not so interconnected that the invalidity of one would make the other invalid.
13
Pg. no. 7, judgement of Harishankar Bagla v. State of M.P
15
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
The High Court was in error in holding that section 6 was unconstitutional. Section 6 of the
Act cited above declares that an order made under section 3 shall have effect notwithstanding
anything inconsistent therewith contained in any enactment other than this Act or any
instrument having effect by virtue of any enactment other than this Act.
In other words it declares that if there is any repugnancy is an order made under section 3
with the provisions of any other enactment, then apart that contradiction the provisions of the
Order will prevail in preference to the provisions of other laws which are thus inconsistent
with the provisions of the Order.
In the view of the High Court the power to do something which may have the effect of
repealing, by implication, an existing law could not be delegated in view of the majority
decision of this Court in In Re : Delhi Laws Act, where it was held that to repeal or abrogate
an existing law is the exercise of an essential legislative power.
The learned Judges of the High Court thought that the conferment of power of the widest
amplitude to make an order inconsistent with the pre-existing laws is nothing short of a
power to repeal.
Upon this supreme court opinion that High court decision on section 6 is not right. Section 6
does not either expressly or by implication repeal any of the provisions of pre-existing laws;
neither does it abrogate them.
Those laws remain untouched and unaffected so far as the statue book is concerned. The
repeal of a statue means as if the repealed statue was on no account on the statue book. The
effect of section 6 certainly is not to repeal any one of those laws or abrogate them.
Its object is simply to by-pass them where they are inconsistent with the provisions of the
Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act, 1946, or the orders made there under In other
words, the orders through under section 3 would be functioning in regard to the essential
commodity covered by the Textile Control Order wherever there is repugnancy in this Order
with the existing laws and to that extent the existing laws with regard to those commodities
will not operate. By-passing a certain law does not necessarily amount to repeal or abrogation
of that law. That law remains unrepealed but throughout the continuance of the order made
16
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
under section 3 it does not operate in that field for the time being. The ambit of its process is
thus limited without there being any repeal of any one of its provisions.
Granting, however, for the sake of argument that to the extent of a repugnancy between an
order made under section 3 and the provisions of an existing law, to the scope of the
repugnancy, the existing law stands repealed by implication, it seems to supreme court that
the repeal is not by any Act of the delegate, but the repeal is by the legislative Act of the
Parliament itself.
By enacting section 6 Parliament itself has declared that an order made under section 3 shall
have effect notwithstanding any inconsistency in this order with any enactment other than this
Act. This is not a pronouncement made by the delegate but the Legislature itself has declared
its will that way in section 6. The abrogation or the implied repeal is by force of the
legislative declaration contained in section 6 and is not by force of the order made by the
delegate under section 3. The power of the delegate is only to make an order under section 3.
Once the delegate has made that order its power is exhausted. Section 6 then steps in in which
the Parliament has declared that as soon as such an order comes into being that will have
effect notwithstanding any inconsistency therewith contained in any enactment other than this
Act. Parliament being supreme, it certainly could make a law abrogating or repealing by
implication provisions of any pre-existing law and no exception could be taken on the ground
of excessive delegation to the Act of the Parliament itself. There is no delegation mixed up in
the provisions of section 6 at all and that section could not be held to be unconstitutional on
that ground.
6. And the final supreme court held that the provisions of sections 3, 4 and 6 of the Essential
Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act, 1946, are constitutional and the validity of order is also
constitutional. Accordingly this appeal is dismissed, and the trial Court is directed to proceed
expeditiously with the case in accordance with law.
17
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
CONCLUSION -
In this case the validity of the cotton textiles (control of movement) order, 1948, which
required a permit from the textile commissioner for transportation of cloth by any person,
was challenged as conferring unregulated and arbitrary power. Supreme court upheld the
order because there was sufficient guidance for the exercise of the power in the general policy
to regulate transportation of cotton textiles in such a manner as to ensure its even distribution
and to make it available at a fair price. Since delegated legislation forms a part of law, courts
have the jurisdiction to scrutinize them. The courts have held that framing of legislative
policy is an important function and cannot be delegated to an administrative body.
Legislative policy can be found from the purpose of an enactment. the court declared Section
3 of the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act, 1946 to be intra vires as it held that the
legislative policy has been laid down. It read the policy from the preamble of the Act.
The Court however, attempted to spell out it in this case as follows: The essential legislative
function, consists in the determination of choice of the legislative policy and of formally
enacting that policy into a binding rule of conduct.
The Court also upheld the delegation of legislative power under Section 3 of the Essential
Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act, 1946, empowering the Central Government to provide by
order for regulating or prohibiting the production or supply of certain essential commodities
so far as it appears to be necessary or measure for maintaining or increasing supplies to any
18
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
essential commodities. The policy and purpose may be pointed out in the section conferring
the powers and may even be indicated in the preamble or elsewhere in the Act.
Unless the term essential legislative function is defined with specificity, the limits of
delegation of legislative power cannot be precisely drawn. This term is difficult to define. The
court, however, ventured to spell out the most prominent aspects of the essential legislative
function in this case as follows-
It was settled by the majority judgement in the re article 143 of the constitution of India and
Re Delhi Law Act Case, that essential powers of legislation cannot be delegated. In the others
words, the legislative policy in respect of a measure and its formulation as a rule of conduct.
The legislature must declare the policy of the law and the legal principles, which are to
control any given cases and must present a standard to guide officials or the body in power to
executive the law. The essential legislative function consists in the determination or choice of
the legislative policy and of formally enacting that policy into a binding rule of conduct.
19
Harishankar Bagla v State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1954 SC 465
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books-
1. Manupatra.com
20