Article 339 of Indian Constitution: Union Role in Scheduled Areas & Tribal Welfare

Article 339 of Indian Constitution grants the Union control over the administration of Scheduled Areas and welfare of Scheduled Tribes. It allows the President to appoint a commission to report on these matters and mandates the appointment of such a commission every 10 years. The President defines the powers and procedures of the commission. Additionally, the Union has the authority to order states on schemes for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes. Explore other important Constitutional Articles.

Article 339 of Indian Constitution

Control of the Union over the administration of Scheduled Areas and the welfare of Scheduled Tribes 

1. The President may at any time and shall, at the expiration of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution by order appoint a Commission to report on the administration of the Scheduled Areas and the welfare of the Scheduled Tribes in the States. The order may define the composition, powers and procedure of the Commission and may contain such incidental or ancillary provisions as the President may consider necessary or desirable.
2. The executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to a State as to the drawing up and execution of schemes specified in the direction to be essential for the welfare of the Scheduled Tribes in the State.

Note: “The information on Article 339 of Indian Constitution provided above has been sourced from the official website, i.e., Indian Code. While the content has been presented here for reference, no modifications have been made to the original laws and orders.”

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Article 339 of Indian Constitution empowers the President to establish a commission to review and report on the administration of Scheduled Areas and the welfare of Scheduled Tribes. This commission can be appointed at any time or mandatorily every 10 years after the commencement of the Constitution under Article 339 (1) of Indian Constitution. Additionally, the Union has the authority to issue directions to states regarding the formulation and execution of schemes for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes under Article 339 (2) of Indian Constitution. Article 339 of Constitution ensure centralized control over the welfare of marginalized communities within the states.

Article 339 of Indian Constitution Significance

Article 339 of Indian Constitution under Part XVI plays an important role in overseeing the welfare of Scheduled Tribes and administration of Scheduled Areas. It empowers the Union Government with important powers and ensures centralized control, accountability and uniform implementation of welfare schemes for Scheduled Tribes across the country. The following are the key aspects of Article 339 of Constitution include:

• Centralized Control and Oversight: Article 339 of the Indian Constitution ensures that the Union Government plays a significant role in the administration of Scheduled Areas and in ensuring the welfare of Scheduled Tribes. The appointment of a commission by the President ensures that there is constant monitoring of the conditions of Scheduled Tribes, maintaining checks and balances on state-level governance.
• Mandatory Commission for Reporting: The requirement to appoint a commission every ten years guarantees that the welfare of Scheduled Tribes remains an essential concern. Article 339 of Indian Constitution ensures periodic assessment and helps the Union Government in formulating appropriate policies for their welfare.
• Union's Executive Power: By allowing the Union to issue directives to the states, Article 339 of Constitution provides a mechanism for the central government to intervene in the welfare of Scheduled Tribes. It ensures uniform implementation of policies and schemes across states and prevents any neglect or disparity in addressing the needs of Scheduled Tribes.

Article 339 of Indian Constitution lays down certain provisions that allows the Union Government to oversee the administration and welfare of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes. The following are the important provisions under this article are:

• Presidential Commission: The President under Article 339 of Constitution has the authority to appoint a commission to examine and report on the governance and welfare of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes. This can occur at any time or after the constitution has been in effect for ten years.
• Directives of the Union to States: Article 339 of Indian Constitution empowers the Union Government to give directions to states regarding the creation and implementation of schemes for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes and ensures that the needs of this marginalized group are met in a structured and consistent manner across the country.

Article 339 of Indian Constitution Case Laws

There are no Landmark Judgments that specifically interpret or focus solely on Article 339 of Indian Constitution. This provision grants the Union Government control over the administration of Scheduled Areas and the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, and has been primarily implemented through executive actions and policies.

Conclusion

Article 339 of Indian Constitution plays an important role in the protection of the welfare of Scheduled Tribes and ensures the effective administration of Scheduled Areas. It empowers the Union Government to appoint a commission for periodic reviews and grants the Union the power to direct states on welfare schemes; the article ensures centralized control and oversight. This mechanism guarantees that the needs of marginalized tribal communities are addressed uniformly across the country, fosters accountability and implementation of national policies.