Context & Current Situation
- Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 2025 due to a deteriorating security situation.
- A delegation of 10 MLAs met the Governor to press for forming a viable government, as the assembly’s term ends in March 2027.
Relevance : GS 2(Federalism ,Polity )
What is President’s Rule (Article 356)?
- Imposed when the State government cannot function as per the Constitution.
- Triggered by:
- Governor’s report, or
- Failure to comply with Union’s directions (Article 365).
- President (i.e., Union government) takes over executive authority of the State.
Procedure for Imposition
- Proclamation must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within 2 months (simple majority).
- Valid for 6 months at a time, extendable up to 3 years in total (with conditions).
- Assembly may be:
- Kept under suspended animation, or
- Dissolved, depending on the situation.
Historical Misuse & Political Expediency
- B.R. Ambedkar hoped Article 356 would remain a “dead letter”.
- However, it was misused frequently, especially to remove Opposition-led governments.
- Past examples: Imposition based on loss in Lok Sabha elections, or law and order issues.
Dissolution of Assemblies – No Uniform Norm
- No standard approach adopted by Governors after President’s Rule:
- Kerala (1970) and Punjab (1971): Assemblies dissolved despite doubtful majority.
- Punjab (1967), UP (1968), MP (1969), Odisha (1971): Assemblies retained; attempts made to form new Ministries.
- Governor’s discretion often politically driven.
Judicial Intervention – S.R. Bommai Case (1994)
- Landmark case that limited misuse of Article 356.
- Key rulings:
- President’s Rule can be imposed only in case of breakdown of constitutional machinery.
- Subject to judicial review.
- Legislative Assembly should not be dissolved until Parliament approves the proclamation.
- Prevents dissolution for political reasons.
Post-Bommai Judicial Oversight
- Courts struck down imposition of President’s Rule in:
- Bihar (2005)
- Uttarakhand (2016)
- Arunachal Pradesh (2016)
- Judiciary now acts as a constitutional watchdog against arbitrary use.
Revocation of President’s Rule
- In Manipur’s case:
- Assembly has 18+ months left.
- Viable government with majority support can be formed without elections.
Conclusion
- Article 356 remains a sensitive constitutional tool.
- Its use must be strictly limited to constitutional crises, not political expediency.
- Current situation in Manipur calls for a government with democratic and social legitimacy.
