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Under which Article of the Indian Constitution is the President empowered to grant pardons?
Article 70
Article 72
Article 74
Article 76
Article 72
Article 72 of the Indian Constitution grants the President of India the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment. This power also includes suspending, remitting, or commuting the sentence of any person convicted of an offense in cases where the sentence is a court-martial, an offense against a Union law, or a sentence of death.
Article 72 of the Indian Constitution grants the President of India the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment. This power also includes suspending, remitting, or commuting the sentence of any person convicted of an offense in cases where the sentence is a court-martial, an offense against a Union law, or a sentence of death.
Article 72: Pardoning Power of the President of India.
The pardoning power is an executive power independent of the judiciary.
The President can grant pardons even in cases involving the death penalty.
The President acts on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers, but the decision is final and not subject to judicial review except in cases of procedural irregularity.
The scope of Article 72 is wider than the pardoning power of the Governor under Article 161 as it covers court-martial sentences and death penalties.
Option A (Article 70) deals with the discharge of President's functions in other contingencies not provided for in the Constitution.
Option C (Article 74) deals with the Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President.
Option D (Article 76) pertains to the office of the Attorney General for India.
B is correct тАФ Article 72 empowers the President of India to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment.
Compare Article 72 (President) with Article 161 (Governor) regarding pardoning powers; note specifically that only the President can pardon a death sentence or court-martial verdict.