THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION 255
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY, FEB. 26,1948 287
PART XVII
Temporary and Transitional Provisions
Temporary *306. Notwithstanding anything in this Constitu- power to tion, Parliament shall, during a period of five years 5 to make laws from the commencement of this Constitution, have with respect power to make laws with respect to the following to certain matters as if they were enumerated in the Concur- matters in rent List, namely;— the State List as if (a) trade and commerce within a State in, and 10 they were the production, supply and distribution matters in of, cotton and woollen textiles, paper the Concur- (including newsprint), foodstuffs (includ- rent List. ing edible oil-seeds and oil), petroleum and petroleum products, spare parts of 15 mechanically propelled vehicles, coal, iron, steel and mica;
(b) relief and rehabilitation of displaced persons;
(c) offences against laws with respect to any of 20 the matters mentioned in clauses (a) and (b) of this article, inquiries and statistics for the purposes of any of those matters, jurisdiction and powers of all courts except the Supreme Court with respect to 25 any of those matters, and fees in respect of any of those matters but not including fees taken in any court;
but any law made by Parliament, which Parliament would not but for the provisions of this article have 30 been competent to make, shall to the extent of the incompetency cease to have effect on the expiration
- The Committee is of opinion that in view of the. present conditions regarding the production, supply and distribution of foodstuffs and certain other commodities and the special problem of the relief and rehabilitation of refugee, power should be provided for Parliament to make Jaws with respect to these matters for a period of five years, although normally these matters fall in the State List. Similar power was conferred for a limited period by the India (Central Government and Legislature) Act, 1946.