Repugnancy

noun (uncountable)

/rɪˈpʌɡnənsi/

The condition of conflict or inconsistency between two legal provisions, particularly between a central and a state law on the same subject in the Concurrent List. Under Article 254 of the Indian Constitution, when a state law is repugnant to a central law or an existing law on a Concurrent List subject, the central law prevails to the extent of the repugnancy; the state law may survive if it received Presidential assent under Article 254(2).

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The Supreme Court in Deep Chand v. State of Uttar Pradesh (1959) laid down three tests for determining repugnancy between central and state laws: direct conflict, occupied-field theory, and legislative intent to cover the whole field.

Synonyms

inconsistencyconflictincompatibilitycontradictionirreconcilability

Antonyms

harmonyconsistencycompatibilityconcordance

🌱 Word Family

repugnant (adjective), repugnantly (adverb), repugn (archaic verb), pugnacious (cognate adjective), pugilist (cognate noun)

🔡 Root

Latin repugnantia ← repugnare (to fight back) ← re- (back) + pugnare (to fight)

📜 Etymology

From Latin repugnantia (resistance, contradiction), the noun of repugnare (to fight against). Related to pugnacious and pugilist. The legal sense of logical or statutory inconsistency entered English law through Blackstone's Commentaries (1765–1769).

🧠 Memory Hook

REPUGNANCY from REPUGN = to FIGHT BACK (PUGN = fight, as in PUGNacious, PUGilist). Two laws in REPUGNANCY are fighting each other — contradicting and battling for supremacy. The stronger (central) law wins the fight.

⚖️ Polity & Constitution 📖 Seen in: Preamble of the Indian Constitution

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