constitutionalLatin origin
Ultra Vires
/UL-trah VY-reez/
Beyond the powers — an act or law that exceeds the legal authority of the person or body that performed it.
Full Definition
Ultra vires (Latin: 'beyond powers') describes an act exceeding the authority vested by law. A law beyond legislative competence is void; an executive order beyond statutory authority can be quashed; a company act beyond its memorandum is invalid.
In Indian Law
Under Article 13, laws inconsistent with fundamental rights are void ab initio. In Kesavananda Bharati (1973) the Supreme Court held even constitutional amendments violating the basic structure are ultra vires the Constitution.