The President’s ordinance-making power is subject to the following limitations:
- An ordinance can be promulgated only when both Houses of Parliament are not in session, or when either House is not in session.
- An ordinance can be made only when the President is satisfied that circumstances exist requiring immediate action.
- The ordinance-making power is coextensive with Parliament’s law-making powers, meaning it can only be issued on subjects on which Parliament can make laws and is subject to the same constitutional limitations as an act of Parliament (e.g., cannot abridge fundamental rights).
- Every ordinance must be laid before both Houses of Parliament when it reassembles and, if not approved, ceases to operate on the expiry of six weeks from reassembly.