Parliament Extends President's Rule in Manipur
Why focus: GS2 Polity — tests mechanics of Article 356. High probability Assertion-Reason on parliamentary approval timelines and max duration.
In News
What Happened
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
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BEFORE: The executive authority of Manipur was headed by the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers. NOW: The executive power is vested in the President and exercised on his behalf by the Governor, usually assisted by appointed Advisors.
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BEFORE: The State Legislative Assembly had the power to legislate on subjects in the State List. NOW: The legislative powers of the state are exercisable by or under the authority of the Parliament.
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BEFORE: The annual state budget was passed by the Vidhan Sabha of Manipur. NOW: The Parliament of India is responsible for passing the state budget and authorizing expenditure from the state's Consolidated Fund.
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BEFORE: A simple parliamentary approval was sufficient to extend the initial six-month rule. NOW: To extend the rule beyond one year, a mandatory certification from the Election Commission is required, stating that general elections cannot be held due to the prevailing situation.
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BEFORE: The State Legislative Assembly was fully functional. NOW: The Assembly is either kept in suspended animation or dissolved, but dissolution can only occur after Parliament has approved the initial proclamation.
What Did NOT Change
The Fundamental Rights of the citizens in Manipur remain intact, as Article 356 does not authorize their suspension, unlike a National Emergency under Article 352. Furthermore, the constitutional jurisdiction, powers, and independence of the Manipur High Court remain completely unaffected, as Article 356 explicitly prohibits the President from assuming any powers vested in the High Court.
Prelims Angle
NCERT Connection
Common Misconceptions
✗ President's Rule can be extended indefinitely as long as the state is experiencing violence.
✓ Under Article 356(4), President's Rule cannot be extended beyond a maximum period of three years under any circumstances. Any extension beyond three years requires a constitutional amendment.
People confuse President's Rule (Article 356) with National Emergency (Article 352), which can be extended indefinitely with periodic six-month parliamentary approvals.
✗ The State Legislative Assembly is automatically and immediately dissolved as soon as the President signs the Article 356 proclamation.
✓ The Assembly is initially placed in 'suspended animation'. It can only be formally dissolved after both houses of Parliament approve the emergency proclamation.
Historically, Assemblies were often dissolved immediately, but the S.R. Bommai judgment (1994) strictly prohibited this practice to prevent irreversible political damage before parliamentary scrutiny.
Practice Questions
Q1
How Many CorrectConsider the following statements regarding the extension of President's Rule under Article 356: 1. A resolution approving the extension of President's Rule must be passed by a special majority in both Houses of Parliament. 2. To extend President's Rule beyond one year, there must be a National Emergency in operation or a certification from the Election Commission. 3. During the operation of President's Rule, the President can assume all powers vested in the Governor but cannot assume the powers vested in the High Court. How many of the above statements are correct?
Q2
Match the FollowingMatch List I (Constitutional Provisions/Cases) with List II (Associated Principles regarding State Emergency) and select the correct answer: List I A. Article 355 B. 44th Amendment Act C. S.R. Bommai Case D. Article 356 List II 1. Mandated that Assembly cannot be dissolved before Parliamentary approval 2. Requires EC certification for extending President's Rule beyond one year 3. Imposition of central rule due to failure of constitutional machinery 4. Duty of the Union to protect states against internal disturbance
Q3
Assertion & ReasonAssertion (A): During the operation of President's Rule in a state, the fundamental rights of the citizens in that state are automatically suspended. Reason (R): Article 356 allows the President to assume all executive and legislative functions of the state government to restore constitutional machinery.