Article 257 of the Constitution of India

exercised as not to impede or prejudice the exercise ofthe executive power of the Union, and the executivepower of the Union shall extend to the giving of suchdirections to a State as may appear to the Government ofIndia to be necessary for that purpose. (2) The executive power of the Union shall also extend to the giving of directions to a State as to theconstruction and maintenance of means of communicationRequirements as torecommendationsand previoussanctions to beregarded as mattersof procedure only. 1The words and letters “specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule” omitted by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, s. 29 and Sch.Obligation of States and theUnion. Control of the Union over Statesin certain cases.156 THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA (Part XI. —Relations between the Union and the States.— Arts. 255—257 .) declared in the direction to be of national or military importance: Provided that nothing in this clause shall be taken as restricting the power of Parliament to declarehighways or waterways to be national highways ornational waterways or the power of the Union withrespect to the highways or waterways so declared or thepower of the Union to construct and maintain means ofcommunication as part of its functions with respect tonaval, military and air force works. (3) The executive power of the Union shall also extend to the giving of directions to a State as to themeasures to be taken for the protection of the railwayswithin the State. (4) Where in carrying out any direction given to a State under clause (2) as to the construction ormaintenance of any means of communication or underclause (3) as to the measures to be taken for the protectionof any railway, costs have been incurred in excess ofthose which would have been incurred in the dischargeof the normal duties of the State if such direction hadnot been given, there shall be paid by the Governmentof India to the State such sum as may be agreed, or, indefault of agreement, as may be determined by anarbitrator appointed by the Chief Justice of India, inrespect of the extra costs so incurred by the State. 1257A. [Assistance to States by deployment of armed forces or other forces of the Union. ] Rep. by the Constitution (Forty- fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 33 ( w.e.f. 20-6-1979).