According to Article 333 of the Indian Constitution the Governor may nominate one Anglo-Indian member to the state Legislative Assembly whenever the community needs representation. In the beginning, the provision helped include Anglo-Indians, until the Twenty-Third Amendment Act, 1969, set it so that only one person from each state could be nominated. Because this power operates apart from other representation measures, the Anglo-Indian community always has a separate way to influence government decisions. Learn more about other sections covered in the Constitutional Articles.

Article 333 of Indian Constitution

Representation of the Anglo-Indian community in the Legislative Assemblies of the States

Notwithstanding anything in article 170, the Governor of a State may, if he is of opinion that the Anglo-Indian community needs representation in the Legislative Assembly of the State and is not adequately represented therein, nominate one member of that community to the Assembly.

Note: “The information on Article 333 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.”

Download Article 333 of Indian Constitution Free PDF

Article 333 of Indian Constitution under Part XVI allows a state's Governor to nominate one Anglo-Indian member to the Legislative Assembly if the community lacks adequate representation.

Here’s a simplified interpretation in points:

• Governor’s Nomination: The Governor of a state can nominate one Anglo-Indian member to the Legislative Assembly.
• Purpose: Ensures representation for the Anglo-Indian community if they are underrepresented.
• Independent Provision: This nomination power functions separately from other representation rules.
• Historical Context: Introduced to safeguard Anglo-Indian participation in governance.
• Amendment: The Twenty-Third Amendment Act, 1969, restricted nominations to one member per state.

Article 333 of Indian Constitution Significance

Article 333 of Indian Constitution empowers the Governor of a state to nominate one Anglo-Indian member to the State Legislative Assembly if the community lacks adequate representation. This provision acknowledges the historical significance of Anglo-Indians, ensuring their participation in governance. The following are some of the key points related to Article 333 of Constitution:

• Governor’s Nomination: The Governor can nominate an Anglo-Indian member to the State Assembly if underrepresented.
• Historical Significance: Reflects the Anglo-Indian community’s presence during the British Raj.
• Purpose: It guarantees consideration of Anglo-Indian interests in legislative processes.
• Scope: Applies only to State Legislative Assemblies, not the Lok Sabha.
• Removal of Reservation: The 104th Constitutional Amendment Act abolished Anglo-Indian representation in legislatures, ending Article 331 and 333 reservations on January 25, 2020.

This provision once ensured Anglo-Indians had a voice in state governance, even without direct electoral representation.

Article 333 of Indian Constitution Important Case Laws

The following is one of the Landmark Judgements related to Article 333 of Indian Constitution:

Anil Kumar Jha vs. Union of India (2005)

The Anil Kumar Jha vs. Union of India (2005) case looked at the Governor's power to appoint the Pro-tem Speaker for the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly and name an Anglo-Indian member under Article 333 of the Indian Constitution. The Court stated that the Governor's actions were unfair and a misuse of authority, supporting the main constitutional rules on good governance.