Article 372 of the Constitution of India

Constitution of the enactments referred to in article 395 but subject to the other provisions of this Constitution, all the law in force in the territory of India immediatelybefore the commencement of this Constitution shall continue in force therein until altered or repealed or amended by a competent Legislature or other competentauthority. (2) For the purpose of brining the provisions of any law in force in the territory of India into accord with theSpecial provision with respect to theState of Goa. Continuance in force of existinglaws and theiradaptation. 1Ins. by the Constitution (Fifty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1987, s. 2 (w.e.f. 30-5-1987).THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA (Part XXI. —Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions .—Arts. 371H—372.)260 provisions of this Constitution, the President may by order1 make such adaptations and modifications of such law, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as may benecessary or expedient, and provide that the law shall, asfrom such date as may be specified in the order, haveeffect subject to the adaptations and modifications somade, and any such adaptation or modification shall not be questioned in any court of law. (3) Nothing in clause (2) shall be deemed— (a) to empower the President to make any adaptation or modification of any law after the expiration of 2[three years] from the commencement of this Constitution; or (b) to prevent any competent Legislature or other competent authority from repealing or amending anylaw adapted or modified by the President under the said clause. Explanation I .—The expression “law in force” in this article shall include a law passed or made by a Legislatureor other competent authority in the territory of India beforethe commencement of this Constitution and not previously repealed, notwithstanding that it or parts of it may not be then in operation either at all or in particular areas. Explanation II .—Any law passed or made by a Legislature or other competent authority in the territoryof India which immediately before the commencement of this Constitution had extra-territorial effect as well as effect in the territory of India shall, subject to any suchadaptations and modifications as aforesaid, contiue to have such extra-territorial effect. 1See the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950, dated the 26th January, 1950, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, p. 449, as amended by Notification No. S.R.O. 115, dated the 5th June,1950, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, p. 51, Notification No. S.R.O. 870,dated the 4th November , 1950, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, p. 903, Notification No. S.R.O. 508, dated the 4th April, 1951, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, PartII, Section 3, p. 287, Notification No. S.R.O. 1140B, dated 2nd July, 1952, Gazette of India,Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, p. 616/I; and the Adaptation of the Travancore-Cochin Land Acquisition Laws Order, 1952, dated the 20th November, 1952, Gazette of India,Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, p. 923. 2Subs. by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, s. 12, for “two years”.THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA (Part XXI. —Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions .—Art. 372.)261 Explanation III .—Nothing in this article shall be construed as continuing any temporary law in force beyond the date fixed for its expiration or the date onwhich it would have expired if this Constitution had notcome into force. Explanation IV. —An Ordinance promulgated by the Governor of a Province under section 88 of theGovernment of India Act, 1935, and in force immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall, unless withdrawn by the Governor of the corresponding Stateearlier, cease to operate at the expiration of six weeksfrom the first meeting after such commencement of theLegislative Assembly of that State functioning underclause (1) of article 382, and nothing in this article shall be construed as continuing any such Ordinance in force beyond the said period. 1[372A. (1) For the purposes of bringing the provisions of any law in force in India or in any part thereof,immediately before the commencement of theConstitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, into accord with the provisions of this Constitution as amended by that Act, the President may by order 2 made before the first day of November, 1957, make such adaptations andmodifications of the law, whether by way of repeal oramendment, as may be necessary or expedient, andprovide that the law shall, as from such date as may be specified in the order, have effect subject to the adaptations and modifications so made, and any suchadaptation or modification shall not be questioned inany court of law. (2) Nothing in clause (1) shall be deemed to prevent a competent Legislature or other competent authority from repealing or amending any law adapted or modified by the President under the said clause.]