The Government of India has imposed the President’ Rule in Arunachal Pradesh. The northeastern state is feared to be heading towards a constitutional breakdown and the Union government is looking for a strong ground to create a stable government in the state. The Union cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, forwarded the plea to President Pranab Mukherjee for the presidential order.

The political situation in Arunachal Pradesh has been dicey since long due to repeated terrorist unrest. But since December last year, the state was experiencing unrest among the state’s assembly members.

What is President’s Rule?

The President’s Rule refers to the imposition of Article 356 of the Constitution of India on a state that is incapable of running the constitutional machinery. In such times, the state comes under the direct control of the central government of India, which is termed as “under the President’s Rule”. The President dissolves the state assembly and orders the centrally appointed Governor to execute the operations of the state.

Why is it implemented?

President’s Rule is implemented under the following circumstances:

• If a state is unable to elect a leader as its Chief Minister
• If the state’s coalition government fails
• If the state’s elections are postponed for unavoidable reasons
• If the state is unable to comply with the constitutional norms.

What can the President do under his rule?

Until 1994, the President had absolute and unfettered power to impose Article 356 on any state, which is experiencing political unrest. It was implemented at the time of the India-China and Indo-Pak wars, civil unrests and political upheavals.

In 1994, the Supreme Court passed an order that changed this. The Supreme Court directed that the President is not beyond the Constitution, hence, he will not enjoy absolute authority to impose Article 356 at his will. The President’s role during the imposition will be based on a report prepared by the affected state’s Governor. The President will only exercise those powers that are approved by both Houses of Parliament.

Bolster Your Knowledge Base

Dicey means unpredictable and potentially dangerous
Unfettered means not confined or restricted, free or loose
Upheavals means a violent or sudden change or disruption to something