Important Legal Definitions
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Doctrine of Repugnancy
Constitutional & Public Law Doctrines
Definition
Codified under Article 254 of the Constitution, resolving direct, irreconcilable conflicts between a Central law and a State law regarding a subject in the Concurrent List (List III). The Central law prevails, rendering the State law void to the extent of the conflict, unless the State law received Presidential assent.
Example
If Parliament passes a uniform national statute setting industrial overtime wages, and a State enactment without Presidential assent prescribes a lower conflicting rate for the same factory category, the State enactment is void for repugnancy.