Emergency provisions

Presented by Santhosh Rao

Menneni
• Part XVIII: Articles 352 to 360.
• It converts the federal structure into a unitary one without
a formal amendment of the Constitution.
• The Constitution stipulates three types of emergencies:
• 1. ‘National Emergency’ (Art 352)
• 2. ‘President’s Rule’ (Art 356)
• 3. Financial Emergency (Art 360)
 NATIONAL EMERGENCY

• National emergency can be declared on the basis of war,

external aggression or armed rebellion.
• Note: The Constitution employs the expression
‘proclamation of emergency’ to denote an emergency of
this type.
• External Emergency
• Internal Emergency
• Note: This term ‘armed rebellion’ is inserted from the
44th amendment. Before this term it was known as
internal disturbance.
 Emergency and Judicial review

• The 38th Amendment Act of 1975: Judicial review.

• 44th Amendment Act of 1978.
• In Minerva Mills case (1980)
• Parliamentary approval and duration
• Continuation of emrgency: Special majority
• Revocation of proclamation
 Effects of national emergency

• 1. Effects on the centre-state relations

• 2. Effect on the life of the Lok Sabha and State Assembly
• 3. Effect on fundamental rights
 Effect on fundamental rights

• 1. Suspension of Fundamental rights under Article

19: 358
• 2. Suspension of other Fundamental Rights: Art 359
 Emergency instances:

Type of emergency Reason Duration

1. National Emergency Chinese aggression October 1962-January 1968

2. National Emergency Pakistan war December 1971 - March 1977

3. National Emergency Internal disturbance June 1975 - March 1977

 President’s Rule

• Article 356 is popularly known as the imposition of ‘President’s

Rule’ in a state.
• Article 355
• Grounds of imposition
– 356
– 365
• Parliamentary approval and duration
 44th CAA 1978 in relation to President’s rule:

• 1. The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 introduced a new

provision to put restraint on the power of Parliament to
extend a proclamation of President’s Rule beyond one
year.
• 2. Thus, it provided that, beyond one year, the President’s
Rule can be extended by six months at a time only when
the following two conditions are fulfilled:
• 1. A proclamation of National Emergency should be in
operation in the whole of India, or in the whole or any part
of the state; and
• 2. The Election Commission must certify that the general
elections to the legislative assembly of the concerned
state cannot be held on account of difficulties.
• Note: A proclamation of President’s Rule may be revoked
by the President at any time by a subsequent
proclamation. Such a proclamation does not require the
parliamentary approval.
 Consequences of the President’s rule

• The President acquires the following extraordinary powers

when the President’s rule is imposed in a state:
• 1. He can take up the functions of the state government
and powers vested in the governor or any other executive
authority in the state.
• 2. He can declare that the powers of the state legislature
are to be exercised by the parliament.
 Scope of judicial review

• The 38th Amendment act of 1975 made the satisfaction

of the President in invoking Article 356 final and
conclusive which would not be challenged in any court
on any ground.
• But, this provision was subsequently deleted by the 44th
Amendment Act of 1978 implying that the satisfaction of
the President is not beyond judicial review.
National Emergency (Article 352) President’s Rule (Article 356)
1. War, external aggression or armed 1. Government of a state cannot be
rebellion. carried on in accordance with the
provisions of
the Constitution
2. The state executive and legislature 2. The executive and
continue to function legislative powers of the state are
assumed by the Centre.
3. The Parliament can make laws on 3. Under this, the Parliament can
the subjects enumerated in the State delegate
List only by itself, that is, it cannot the power to make laws for the state to
delegate the same to any other body or the
authority. President or to any other authority
specified by him
4. It can be continued indefinitely 4. There is a maximum period
with the approval of Parliament prescribed
for every six months. for its operation, that is, three years.
National Emergency (Article 352) President’s Rule (Article 356)
5. The relationship of the Centre with all 5. The relationship of only the
the states undergoes a modification. state under emergency with the Centre
undergoes a modification.
6. Must be passed by a special 6. Can be passed only by a
majority. simple majority.
7. It affects fundamental rights 7. It has no effect on Fundamental
of the citizens. Rights
of the citizens
8. Lok Sabha can pass a 8. There is no such provision. It can be
resolution for its revocation revoked by the President only on his
own.
 Financial Emergency

• Grounds of declaration: Article 360 empowers the

president to proclaim a Financial Emergency if he is
satisfied that a situation has arisen due to which the
financial stability or credit of India or any part of its
territory is threatened.
• Parliamentary approval and duration: A proclamation
declaring financial emergency must be approved by both
the Houses of Parliament within two months from the
date of its issue.
• However, if the proclamation of Financial Emergency is issued
at a time when the Lok Sabha has been dissolved or the
dissolution of the Lok Sabha takes place during the period of
two months without approving the proclamation, then the
proclamation survives until 30 days from the first sitting of the
Lok Sabha after its reconstitution, provided the Rajya Sabha
has in the meantime approved it.
• Once approved by both the houses of Parliament, the
Financial Emergency continues indefinitely till it is revoked.
 Effects of Financial Emergency

• 1. Extension of the executive authority of the Union over

the financial matters of the States.
• 2. Reduction of salaries and allowances of all or any
class of persons serving in the State.
• 3. Reservation of all money bills or other financial bills for
the consideration of the President after they are passed
by the legislature of the State.
• 4. Direction from the President for the reduction of
salaries and allowances of all or any class of persons
serving the Union; and the judges of the Supreme Court
and the High Courts.
 Criticism of the Emergency Provision

• 1. The federal character of the constitution will be destroyed

and the union will become all-powerful
• 2. The powers of the State- both the Union and the Units- will
entirely be concentrated in the hands of the union executive.
• 3. The president will become a dictator
• 4. The financial autonomy of the state will be nullified
• 5. Fundamental rights will become meaningless and, as a
result, the democratic foundation of the constitution will be
destroyed.’