President's rule

President's rule (or Central Rule) is the term used in India when a state government is dissolved and is placed under direct federal rule. President's rule is enabled by article 356 of the Constitution of India, which gives the central government the authority to dismiss any state government if there has been failure of the constitutional machinery in the state.

The state governor can dissolve the house on his own discretion, if there is no clear majority in the house, on the advice of the ruling party or by the central (federal) government. The governor then dissolves the house, placing it in 'suspended animation' for a period of six months. After six months, if there is no clear majority, then fresh elections are held.

It is called "President's rule" as the President of India governs the state instead of an elected Chief Minister, but administratively the state governor is delegated executive authority on behalf of the central (federal) government. The governor normally appoints advisor(s), who are retired civil servants, to help in administration.

This article was enabled as a means for the central government to assert authority over a state if civil unrest (such as riots) occurred and the state government didn't have the means to end the unrest. Critics of president's rule argue that most of the time, it has been used as a pretext to dissolve state governments ruled by political opponents. Thus, it is seen by many as a threat to the federal state system. Since the Indian constitution was adopted in 1950, the central government has used this article more than 100 times to dissolve state governments and impose direct rule.

The article was used for the first time during Vimochana samaram to dismiss the democratically elected Communist Ministry of Kerala on July 31, 1959

External links

* [http://www.ejcl.org/81/abs81-4.html Discusses the instances where presidents rule has been invoked]
* [http://www.constitution.org/cons/india/p18356.html Text of article 356, which enables the use of presidents rule]
* [http://www.judis.nic.in/supremecourt/chejudis.asp]