Article 12 – Section 17

In times of national emergency, when the public

interest so requires, the State may, during the
emergency and under reasonable terms
prescribed by it, temporarily take over or
direct the operation of any privately owned
public utility or business affected with public
interest
 Temporary take-over or direction of
private business by the government
Under the said provision, the State
(government) in times of national emergency
when the public interest so requires, may
either temporarily take over the operation of
any privately-owned public utility or business
affected with public interest or merely direct
the operation of said public utility or business.
In the first case, the government virtually
becomes owner of the utility or business.
In either case, the temporary take over or
direction by the government must not last
beyond the period of the public emergency
and it must be under reasonable terms
prescribed by it.
The President may declare a state of national
emergency and exercise the powers granted
by Section 17 without need of an emergency
powers law enacted by Congress as provided
under Section 23 (2) of Article VI.