Powers conferred to be exercisable from time to time
Section 14 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 deals with powers conferred to be exercisable from time to time. Where, by any [Central Act] or Regulation made after the commencement of this Act, any power is conferred , then [unless a different intention appears] that power may be exercised from time to time as occasion requires. The Act came into force on 11 Mar 1897.
(1) Where, by any 1[Central Act] or Regulation made after the commencement of this Act, any power is conferred 2***, then 3[unless a different intention appears] that power may be exercised from time to time as occasion requires.
(2) This section applies also to all 4[Central Acts] and Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day of January, 1887.
Section 14, The General Clauses Act, 1897 (Act 10 of 1897).
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India vs Rajender Rao Juvvadi
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The Central Government acted within its powers under Section 1(3) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 in issuing the impugned notification dated 15.11.2019 bringing into force provisions of the Code selectively for personal guarantors to corporate debtors. The notification is a valid exercise of conditional legislation as: (1) the 2018 Amendment Act provided sufficient legislative guidance by creating a separate category of personal guarantors and amending Section 60 to provide unified adjudication; (2) personal guarantors form a distinct category warranting differential treatment due to their intrinsic connection with corporate debtors; (3) the notification operationalizes existing provisions in accordance with Parliamentary intent; and (4) approval of a resolution plan for a corporate debtor does not discharge the personal guarantor's liability which arises from an independent contract of guarantee and is not discharged by involuntary discharge of the principal debtor by operation of law.
On this section: The Court noted that powers conferred by any Act can be exercised from time to time, supporting the argument that Section 1(3) power is not a one-time power
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Mahendra Kumar Rajpal vs Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The Central Government, acting under Section 1(3) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, has the power to bring into force different provisions of the Code at different times for different categories of persons. The 2018 Amendment Act, by creating personal guarantors as a distinct category in Section 2(e) and mandating the NCLT as the adjudicating authority in Section 60, provided sufficient legislative guidance for the Central Government to selectively apply the Code to personal guarantors to corporate debtors. The notification dated 15.11.2019 is a valid exercise of conditional legislation, not an instance of excessive delegation or impermissible legislative exercise. Personal guarantors, though individuals, are intrinsically connected to corporate debtors and warrant unified adjudication before the NCLT. The approval of a corporate resolution plan does not discharge the personal guarantor's liability, which remains enforceable as an independent contractual obligation under the Indian Contract Act, 1872.
On this section: Powers conferred by Act exercisable from time to time
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Sanjay Singal vs Union of India
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The impugned notification dated 15.11.2019 bringing into force provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 only in so far as they relate to personal guarantors to corporate debtors is a valid exercise of power conferred by Section 1(3) of the Code. The Central Government acted within its constitutional powers in selectively applying Code provisions to personal guarantors as a distinct category of individuals, as this classification was created by Parliament through the 2018 Amendment Act which amended Section 2(e) and Section 60 to provide unified adjudication of corporate debtors and personal guarantors before the NCLT. The notification does not constitute impermissible delegation of legislative power or excessive modification of statutory provisions, but rather operationalizes the Parliamentary intent to treat personal guarantors differently from other individuals due to their intrinsic connection with corporate debtors. Approval of a resolution plan relating to a corporate debtor does not operate to discharge the liabilities of personal guarantors to such corporate debtors, as the guarantor's liability is co-extensive with the principal debtor and continues notwithstanding involuntary discharge of the principal debtor by operation of law.
On this section: Powers conferred by any Act can be exercised from time to time as occasion requires
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 14
What have the courts held on Section 14 of the General Clauses Act?
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India vs Rajender Rao Juvvadi (21 May 2021) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: The Court noted that powers conferred by any Act can be exercised from time to time, supporting the argument that Section 1(3) power is not a one-time power. Another 2 judgments on this section are set out below, all of them from the Supreme Court.
How do I find court cases under Section 14 of the General Clauses Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: General Clauses Act 14, section 14 General Clauses Act, section 14 of the General Clauses Act. People searching for it also type general clauses act 1897 section 14. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 3 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India vs Rajender Rao Juvvadi (21 May 2021).
When did Section 14 of the General Clauses Act come into force?
Section 14 of the General Clauses Act, cited as General Clauses Act 14, came into force on 11 Mar 1897, having been enacted on 11 Mar 1897. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 3. Definitions2735 words
- 23. Provisions applicable to making of rules or bye-laws after previous publication243 words
- 24. Continuation of orders, etc., issued under enactments repealed and re-enacted178 words
- 6. Effect of repeal168 words
- 4. Application of foregoing definitions to previous enactments143 words
- 28. Citation of enactments143 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 17 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.