Articles 69, 70 and 71 of the Constitution of India

Article 69 - Oath or affirmation by the Vice-President

Article 69 requires every Vice-President, before entering upon office, to make and subscribe an oath or affirmation before the President, or before a person appointed by the President for that purpose.

Meaning and purpose of Article 69

The provision makes the oath or affirmation a constitutional step that precedes entry into the office of Vice-President. It expressly identifies who administers the oath and the constitutional commitments made by the office-holder.

Article 70 - Discharge of President's functions in other contingencies

Article 70 authorises Parliament to make such provision as it considers appropriate for the discharge of the functions of the President in a contingency that is not otherwise provided for in the relevant Chapter of the Constitution.

Law made in connection with Article 70

The President (Discharge of Functions) Act, 1969 is relevant to the statutory framework for the discharge of Presidential functions in specified circumstances. Article 70 operates as the constitutional enabling provision for contingencies not otherwise dealt with in the Chapter.

Article 71 - Matters relating to election of President or Vice-President

Article 71 deals with doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with the election of the President or Vice-President and assigns the adjudicatory role to the Supreme Court of India.

Article 71(1) - Election disputes

All doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with the election of a President or Vice-President are to be inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court, whose decision is final.

Article 71(2) - Effect where an election is declared void

If the Supreme Court declares the election of a person as President or Vice-President void, acts already done by that person in the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of the office on or before the date of the Court's decision are not invalidated merely because of that declaration.

Article 71(3) - Parliament may regulate election-related matters

Subject to the Constitution, Parliament may by law regulate matters relating to or connected with the election of the President or Vice-President. The principal legislation is the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, which regulates matters including nominations, polling, counting, declaration of results and election petitions.

Article 71(4) - Vacancy in electoral college

An election of the President or Vice-President cannot be called in question merely on the ground that a vacancy, for whatever reason, existed among the members of the electoral college electing that person.