Article 174: Sessions of the State Legislature, prorogation and dissolution

In plain words

The Governor summons the State Legislature to meet at such times and places as the Governor thinks fit, but no more than six months can pass between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next. The Governor can prorogue either House and dissolve the Legislative Assembly.

A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.

Official text

(1) The Governor shall from time to time summon the House or each House of the Legislature of the State to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session.

(2) The Governor may from time to time—

(a) prorogue the House or either House;

(b) dissolve the Legislative Assembly.]

Source: India Code (Legislative Department), the official text of the Constitution of India. As amended up to the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023. Text as on 10 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the article 174

Sita Soren v. Union of India
2024 INSC 1614 March 2024Reference answered

Instant Reference pertains to reconsideration of the correctness of the view of the majority judgment in *PV Narasimha Rao’s case granting immunity from prosecution to a member of the legislature who has allegedly…
State of Punjab v. Principal Secretary to the Governor of
2023 INSC 101710 November 2023Disposed of
Subhash Desai v. Principal Secretary, Governor of
2023 INSC 51611 May 2023Disposed of
State of Punjab v. Principal Secretary to the Governor of
2023 INSC 18128 February 2023Disposed of
Shivraj Singh Chouhan & Ors. v. Speaker Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly & Ors.
2020 INSC 33513 April 2020Disposed of
Govt. of NCT of Delhi v. Union of India
2019 INSC 19414 February 2019Disposed of
Ram Pal Singh v. State of U.P. & Ors.
2018 INSC 40724 April 2018Dismissed
Nabam Rebia, and Bamang Felix v. Deputy Speaker and Others
2016 INSC 52613 July 2016Appeal(s) allowed
Raja Ram Pal v. The Honble Speaker, Lok Sabha & Ors.
2007 INSC 2210 January 2007Dismissed
Kishansing Tomar v. Municipal Corporation of the City of Ahmedabad and Ors.
2006 INSC 71319 October 2006Disposed of
Rameshwar Prasad and Ors. v. Union of India and Anr.
2006 INSC 4224 January 2006Disposed of
Rameshwar Prasad and Ors. v. Union of India and Anr.
2005 INSC 4917 October 2005
Special Reference No. I of 2002 v. .
2002 INSC 44528 October 2002Reference answered
Gurudevdatia Vksss Maryadit and Ors. v. State of Maharashtra and Ors.
2001 INSC 16422 March 2001Dismissed
S.R. Bommai v. Union of India and Ors.
1994 INSC 11111 March 1994
Baburao Alias P.B. Samant v. Union of India and Ors.
1987 INSC 38117 December 1987Dismissed
Pashupati Nath Sukul & Others. v. Nem Chandra Jain & Others.
1983 INSC 18725 November 1983Appeal(s) allowed
State of Rajasthan & Ors. Etc. Etc. v. Union of India Etc. Etc.
1977 INSC 1436 May 1977Dismissed
Special Reference No. 1 of 1974 v. Special Reference No. 1 of 1974
1974 INSC 1235 June 1974Reference answered
State of Punjab v. Sat Pal Dang & Ors.
1968 INSC 16630 July 1968Appeal(s) allowed
The State of Uttar Pradesh and Others v. Babu Ram Upadhya
1960 INSC 22125 November 1960Dismissed