President’s Rule in Indian States

The imposition of President’s rule, at the State level, under Article 356 of the Constitution, is one of the major irritants in the working of Centre-State relations. It can not be claimed that this provision has always been used wisely or honestly to remove a State Ministry. The Article has on occasions been invoked to serve party Union Government, like all other State Governments, being a party Government is not altruistic for success in the political arena. Since the coming into force of the Constitution on January 26, 1950, President’s rule has been promulgated 75 times in 23 states in the Union where President’s rule was necessitated within two years of the commencement of the Constitution. Imposition of President’s rule eight times in Punjab, forms the mainstay of the present work. The investigation of all the eight occasions has revealed that there was no major difference between the performance of the popular ministries and the President’s rule. In fact, the imposition of President’s rule in 1983, and 1987 with the avowed aim of bring in peace, rather proved counter-productive. It widened the gulf between Punjab and India, Hindu & Sikh, national and regional parties etc. There was also increase in violence which it was intended to check. The seventh spell of President’s rule (1983-85) saw ‘Operation Bluestar; revival of historic Sikh institutions like the Sarbat Khalsa; assassination of the then Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, and the November 1984 riots etc. The eighth spell (1987 to the present) has been the period in which militancy and separatism have taken root and use of AK-47s, AK-74s, AK-94s, rockets, landmines and bombs has become common. Obviously, President’s rule is not a remedy in itself. It only gives time for the Government, political parties and the people to strive for a lasting solution to the problem. It must by its nature be purely transitional. It is intended to bring about a smooth, legal, constitutional and peaceful change of government from one party to another, one group to another, and one individual to another. It is no doubt an effective instrument, which was prove useful only if it is operated with restraint and noble motive.

Dr. Subhash Chandra Arora (b. 1940) passed M.a. (Political Science) securing First Class from the Panjab University in 1970. He obtained Ph.D. from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak (Haryana) in 1982. He taught at Panjab University, Chandigarh; Punjabi University, Patiala; and Kurukshetra University. At present he is Head, Dept. of Political Science, M.D. University College, Rohtak. Dr. Arora has contributed a large number of research papers to journals of repute and besides the present volume, Turmoil in Punjab Politics is his major work.