Union directions to states
Also called: Article 256, Article 257, Obligation of states and the Union · Topic: Federalism and Centre-State Relations · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 7 "Federalism"
Meaning
Union directions to states are the Union's powers to guide how states use their executive power, which is their power to run the government. Under Article 256, states must use this power in a way that obeys laws made by Parliament. Under Article 257(1), states must not use it in a way that gets in the way of the Union's own executive power. In both cases the Union can give directions to the states. If a state ignores these directions, Article 365 lets the President treat it as a breakdown of constitutional machinery. That can lead to President's rule, where the Union takes over the state's government.
Example
Article 257 lets the Union direct a state to build and maintain communications of military importance. It also lets the Union direct a state to protect railway lines. The state must follow these directions.
Don't confuse with
- Art. 258 delegation: here the Union hands over some of its own functions to a state with its consent. Under Arts. 256-257 it directs a state on how to use the state's own power.