President’s Rule in Manipur

A delegation of 10 MLAs from the Manipur Legislative Assembly recently met the State Governor demanding the formation of a viable government. Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 2025 following a breakdown of constitutional machinery amid deteriorating security and political instability.

Manipur under President’s Rule: Constitutional Framework and Contemporary Challenges

• Understanding President’s Rule under Article 356
  • Definition and Constitutional Provision: Article 356 empowers the President to take over a State government if it fails to function according to the Constitution.
  • Imposition Process: Initiated on Governor’s report or otherwise; requires parliamentary approval within two months by simple majority.
  • Duration and Extension: Initially six months; can be extended up to a maximum of three years in six-month increments with parliamentary approval.
• Historical Context and Misuse of Article 356
  • Ambedkar’s Vision: Intended as a safeguard, hoped never to be invoked.
  • Frequent Misuse: Historically used to dismiss elected State governments on political grounds rather than constitutional necessity.
• Judicial Interpretation and Safeguards
  • Early Non-Interference: Courts initially refrained from interfering with the Centre’s decision.
  • R. Bommai Judgment (1994): Landmark ruling restricting misuse; held that President’s Rule can only be imposed due to constitutional machinery breakdown, not mere law and order issues.
  • Judicial Review: Imposition is subject to judicial scrutiny; legislative assemblies should not be dissolved before parliamentary approval.
  • Subsequent Judgments: Courts struck down wrongful imposition in Bihar (2005), Uttarakhand (2016), and Arunachal Pradesh (2016).
• Current Scenario in Manipur
  • Reasons for Imposition: Security deterioration and political developments led to President’s Rule in February 2025.
  • Suspended Animation of Assembly: Assembly term till March 2027; not dissolved but kept suspended.
  • Demand for Government Formation: MLAs pressing for a government that commands assembly and societal confidence given remaining 18 months of the term.
• Significance of Article 356 in India’s Federal Structure:
  • Article 356 was conceived as a constitutional safety valve to protect states and the union, but its misuse undermined federalism. Post-S. R. Bommai, the judiciary has played a critical role in safeguarding constitutional norms and restricting arbitrary central intervention.
• Political and Security Context in Manipur:
  • The imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur stems from serious security concerns amid ethnic tensions and political instability, illustrating the delicate balance between law and order and constitutional governance.

Constitutional and Political Challenges:

• Keeping the Assembly in suspended animation respects democratic principles by avoiding premature dissolution.
• However, prolonged President’s Rule risks democratic deficit and governance paralysis unless followed by timely government formation or fresh elections.
• Installation of a stable government with majority support is critical to restore normalcy and democratic functioning, respecting the socio-political diversity of Manipur.

Way Forward:

• The Union government and the Governor must facilitate the formation of a stable government reflecting assembly confidence to uphold democratic legitimacy.
• Careful monitoring of law and order to prevent further deterioration, coupled with inclusive political dialogue involving all stakeholders.
• Strengthening institutional mechanisms for conflict resolution and governance to prevent recurrence of constitutional breakdown.
• Ensuring adherence to judicial guidelines to prevent misuse of Article 356 in the future.