President's rule


In India, president's rule is the suspension of state government and imposition of direct central government rule in a state. Under Article 356 of the Constitution of India, in the event that a state government is unable to function according to constitutional provisions, the Central government can take direct control of the state machinery. Subsequently, executive authority is exercised through the centrally appointed governor, who has the authority to appoint other administrators to assist them. The administrators are usually nonpartisan retired civil servants.
When a state government is functioning correctly, it is run by an elected Council of Ministers responsible to the state's legislative assembly. The council is led by the chief minister, who is the de facto chief executive of the state; the Governor is only a de jure constitutional head. However, during president's rule, the Council of Ministers is dissolved, vacating the office of Chief Minister. Furthermore, the Vidhan Sabha is either :wikt:prorogued|prorogued or dissolved, necessitating a new election.
Prior to 2019, the constitution of the state of Jammu and Kashmir had a similar system of governor's rule, under its Section 92. The state's governor issued a proclamation, after obtaining the consent of the President of India allowing governor's rule for a period of up to six months after which presidents rule under 356 of the Constitution of India can be imposed. After the revocation of Article 370, President's rule applies to Jammu and Kashmir under section 73 of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
Following its landmark judgment in the 1994 Bommai case, the Supreme Court of India has restricted arbitrary impositions of president's rule.
Chhattisgarh and Telangana are the only states where the president's rule has not been imposed so far.

Imposition in states

In practice, president's rule has been imposed in a state under any one of the following different circumstances:
for a time prescribed by the Governor of that state, at the Will of Governor.
If approved by both houses, president's rule can continue for 6 months. It can be extended for a maximum of 3 years with the approval of the Parliament done every 6 months. If the Lok Sabha is dissolved during this time, the rule is valid for 30 days from the first sitting of the Lok Sabha provided that this continuance has already been approved by Rajya Sabha. The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 introduced a new provision to put a restraint on the power of the Parliament to extend the president's rule in a state. According to this provision, the president's rule can only be extended over a year every 6 months under the following conditions:
President's rule can be revoked at any time by the president and does not need the Parliament's approval.
Until the mid-1990s, president's rule was often imposed in states through abusing the authority of Governors who were in collusion with the central government. The Supreme Court of India in March 1994 instituted a rule by which such abuse has been drastically reduced.

Imposition in union territories with a legislative assembly

Article 356 is not applicable to union territories, so there are many ways by which president's rule can be imposed in different union territories with a legislative assembly.

Jammu and Kashmir

Until the revocation of Article 370 and bifurcation into two Union territories, President's rule applied after the implication of Governor's rule for 6 months.
After the revocation and bifurcation, the reorganised Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is subject to the section 73 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, which is used to impose President's rule as the Article 356 is not applicable to Union Territories. The provision states:

Delhi

In NCT of Delhi the president's rule is applied on the basis of Article 239AB of the Constitution of India which reads as-

Criticism

Article 356 gave wide powers to the central government to assert its authority over a state if civil unrest occurs, and the state government does not have the means to end it. Though the purpose of this article is to give more powers to central government to preserve the unity and integrity of the nation, it has often been misused by the ruling parties at the centre, who used it 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 adoption of the Indian constitution in 1950, the central government has used this article several times to dissolve elected state governments by imposing president's rule.
The article was used for the first time in Punjab on 20th,June,1951. It was also used in the state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union and during the Vimochana Samaram to dismiss the democratically elected Communist state government of Kerala on 31 July 1959. In the 1970s and 1980s, it was common for the central government to dismiss state governments led by opposition parties. The Indira Gandhi regime and post-emergency Janata Party were noted for this practice. Indira Gandhi's government between 1966 and 1977 is known to have imposed president's rule 39 times in different states. Similarly, the Janata Party which came to power after the emergency issued president's rule in 9 states which were ruled by Congress.
The practice was limited only after the Supreme Court established strict guidelines for imposing president's rule in its ruling on the S. R. Bommai v. Union of India case in 1994. This landmark judgement has helped curtail the widespread misuse of Article 356. The judgement established strict guidelines for imposing president's rule. Subsequent pronouncements by the Supreme Court in Jharkhand and other states have further limited the scope for misuse of Article 356. Only since the early 2000s has the number of cases of imposition of president's rule has been drastically reduced.
Article 356 has always been the focal point of a wider debate of the federal structure of government in Indian polity. The Sarkaria Commission Report on Centre-State Relations 1983 has recommended that Article 356 must be used "very sparingly, in extreme cases, as a measure of last resort, when all the other alternatives fail to prevent or rectify a breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state". Dr. Ambedkar also said that it would be like a "dead letter".

List of instances

StateDate of impositionDate of revocationDurationReason to impose the President's rule
Andhra Pradesh 18 January 197310 December 1973Breakdown of law & order due to Jai Andhra Agitation, in P. V. Narasimha Rao's tenure.
Andhra Pradesh 28 February 20148 June 2014Political impasse following the resignation of Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and several other congress party legislators from the Government as well as the Party, in protest against Indian Parliament passing Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill to bifurcate united Andhra Pradesh and create a separate Telangana state. President's rule revoked from Telangana areas on 2 June 2014 and bifurcated Andhra Pradesh areas on 8 June 2014. President rule reimposed unlawfully by the President after the two months time limit without taking approval of the Parliament under.
Andhra State 15 November 195429 March 1955Loss of majority
Arunachal Pradesh 3 November 197918 January 1980Loss of majority following defections in a fluid political environment during Janata party rule at the Centre.
Arunachal Pradesh 25 January 201619 February 201626 days21 Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of the BJP and two Independents, making the current government a minority government. Supreme Court declared the imposition of president rule as ultra vires and reinstated the dismissed congress led government in the state. In a landmark judgement, it found fault with the unconstitutional role played by the Governor by interfering in the activities of legislatures and speaker of the Vidhan Shaba
Assam 12 December 19795 December 1980'Assam Agitation' against illegal foreign national staying in Assam started to take roots under the leadership of the All Assam Students’Union. The violence fuelled by United Liberation Front of Asom resulted in break down of law and order.
Assam 30 June 198113 January 1982Congress government led by Anwara Taimur representing immigrant minorities collapsed following intensification of 'Assam Agitation' against illegal foreign national staying in Assam.
Assam 19 March 198227 February 1983Congress government led by Kesab Gogoi representing ethnic Asom people collapsed following continued violence in Assam.
Assam 28 November 199030 June 1991Government dismissed in spite of AGP CM Prafulla Mahanta enjoying majority support in Assembly. The dismissal was triggered apparently by the threat to internal security due to banned organisation ULFA's activities. During the president's rule, Operation Bajrang was launched to flush out ULFA militants.
Bihar 29 June 196826 February 1969Loss of majority following defections in a fluid political environment.
Bihar 4 July 196916 February 1970Loss of majority following defections in a fluid political environment due to split in ruling Congress party
Bihar 9 January 197219 March 1972Loss of majority following defections in a fluid political environment.
Bihar 30 April 197724 June 1977Government dismissed in spite of Jagannath Mishra enjoying majority support in Assembly
Bihar 17 February 19808 June 1980Government dismissed in spite of Ram Sundar Das enjoying majority support in Assembly
Bihar 28 March 19955 April 1995President's rule imposed for a brief period of one week to facilitate passage of vote on account by Parliament while awaiting the results of Assembly elections held during the Chief Ministership of Laloo Prasad.
Bihar 12 February 19999 March 1999Breakdown of law and order, killings of 11 Dalits at Narayanpur. The Vajpayee Government, revoked the president's rule within 26 days since the coalition did not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha.
Bihar 7 March 200524 November 2005Indecisive outcome of elections. In a landmark judgement, Supreme Court ruled that the imposition of the president's rule without giving the chance to the elected legislatures to form new government is unconstitutional and mala fide act by the president.
Delhi 14 February 201411 February 2015Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Chief Minister after failing to table the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Delhi Assembly.
Goa 2 December 19665 April 1967The Union Territory of Goa's Assembly was dissolved to conduct an opinion poll to determine whether Goa should be merged with Maharashtra.
Goa 27 April 197916 January 1980Loss of majority following split in the ruling MGP Party
Goa 14 December 199025 January 1991C.M. resigned consequent upon his disqualification by High Court – No other Government found viable
Goa 9 February 19999 June 1999Loss of majority and no alternate claimant to form next government
Goa 4 March 20057 June 2005Government dismissed after controversial confidence vote secured in the Assembly by CM Pratap Sinh Rane
Gujarat 12 May 197117 March 1972Loss of majority following vertical split in Congress during 1969 presidential election
Gujarat 9 February 197418 June 1975Chimanbhai Patel led Congress government resigned due to Navnirman Movement Anti-Corruption protests. The protesters forced MLA's resignations, forcing dissolution of assembly.
Gujarat 12 March 197624 December 1976"Non-Passage" of budget leading to collapse of government
Gujarat 17 February 19808 June 1980Government dismissed in spite of Babubhai J Patel enjoying majority support in the Assembly
Gujarat 19 September 199623 October 1996Government dismissed following a controversial confidence vote. The Assembly was placed in suspended animation, which led to subsequent installation of Vaghela government, supported by Congress
Haryana 2 November 196722 May 1968Government dismissed in spite of having a tenuous majority.
Haryana 30 April 197721 June 1977Government dismissed in spite of B D Gupta enjoying majority support in Assembly
Haryana 6 April 199123 July 1991Rebellion in the ruling party
Himachal Pradesh 30 April 197722 June 1977Government dismissed in spite of Thakur Ram Lal enjoying majority support in Assembly
Himachal Pradesh 15 December 19923 December 1993Government dismissed in the aftermath of the destruction of Babri Masjid-Ram Janmasthan in Uttar Pradesh.
Jammu and Kashmir 26 March 19779 July 1977Sheikh Abdullah led National Conference government bowed out after being reduced to a minority following withdrawal of support by the Congress Party
Jammu and Kashmir 6 March 19867 November 1986Loss of majority
Jammu and Kashmir 19 January 19909 October 1996Insurgency and break down of law and order.
Jammu and Kashmir 18 October 20022 November 2002Indecisive outcome of elections.
Jammu and Kashmir 11 July 20085 January 2009Loss of majority following collapse of coalition. CM Gulam Nabi Azad's decision to transfer land for Amarnath pilgrimage led to PDP pulling out of coalition Govt.
Jammu and Kashmir 9 January 20151 March 2015Failure of Government formation after fractured verdict in Assembly elections. BJP & PDP reached an understanding to form an alliance to form Government in J&K.
Jammu and Kashmir 8 January 20164 April 2016Death of chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed
Jammu and Kashmir 19 June 201830 October 2019Resignation of the Chief Minister following loss of coalition partner. On 31 October 2019, Jammu and Kashmir state was split into two union territories, UT of Jammu and Kashmir and UT of Ladakh.
Jammu and Kashmir 31 October 2019PresentTo continue President's rule imposed on 19 June 2018 as Jammu and Kashmir state was split into two union territories, UT of Jammu and Kashmir and UT of Ladakh. It was imposed under section 73 of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 as Article 356 does not apply to Union Territories.
Jharkhand 19 January 200929 December 2009Loss of majority
Jharkhand 1 June 201011 September 2010Loss of majority
Jharkhand 18 January 201312 July 2013Loss of majority BJP's ruling coalition partner JMM withdrew its support to the government pushing it into a minority. Chief Minister Arjun Munda resigned and sought dissolution of the state Assembly.
Karnataka 19 March 197120 March 1972Loss of majority
Karnataka 31 December 197728 February 1978Government dismissed in spite of Congress CM Devraj Urs enjoying majority support in Assembly
Karnataka 21 April 198930 November 1989Loss of majority of CM S. R. Bommai, followed by dissolution of Assembly. On an appeal by S. R. Bommai, in a landmark judgement delivered in 1994, the Indian Supreme Court laid out the procedure to be followed before dissolving an elected assembly. The historic ruling in this case reduced the scope for misuse of Article 356 by future central governments and governors.
Karnataka 10 October 199017 October 1990Government of Veerendra Patil dismissed by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and state was placed under president's rule with the assembly placed in suspended animation until next chief Minister was elected
Karnataka 9 October 200711 November 2007Loss of majority
Karnataka 20 November 200727 May 2008Loss of majority
Kerala 31 July 195922 February 1960Government dismissed in spite of Communist CM EMS Namboodiripad enjoying majority support in Assembly
Kerala 10 September 19646 March 1967Loss of majority followed by indecisive outcome of elections
Kerala 1 August 19704 October 1970Loss of majority
Kerala 1 December 197925 January 1980Loss of majority
Madhya Pradesh 29 April 197725 June 1977Government dismissed in spite of Shyama Charan Shukla enjoying majority support in Assembly
Madhya Pradesh 18 February 19808 June 1980Government dismissed in spite of Sundar Lal Patwa enjoying majority support in Assembly
Madhya Pradesh 15 December 19927 December 1993Govt. dismissed in the aftermath of Babri Masjid-Ram Janmasthan destruction in Uttar Pradesh.
Maharashtra 17 February 19808 June 1980Govt. dismissed in spite of Sharad Pawar enjoying majority support in the Assembly
Maharashtra 28 September 201431 October 2014Govt. dismissed since Congress Separated from its allies NCP and Others.
Maharashtra 12 November 201923 November 201911 daysNo party could form a government after a fractured election verdict and Shiv Sena broke the pre-poll alliance it had with the BJP. See also: 2019 Maharashtra political crisis
Manipur 12 January 196719 March 1967First Elections to Manipur Union Territory Assembly held.
Manipur 25 October 196718 February 1968Short lived ministry collapsed following resignation of speaker, resulting in neither ruling nor opposition congress having a clear majority in the assembly. Assembly kept in suspended animation.
Manipur 17 October 196922 March 1972Violent secessionist insurgency and statehood demands resulted in breakdown of law and order
Manipur 28 March 19733 March 1974President's rule was imposed even though the opposition had a "tenuous" majority and could have formed a government
Manipur 16 May 197728 June 1977Collapse of Government following defections
Manipur 14 November 197913 January 1980Discontent within Janata Party Government and corruption charges led to dismissal of government and dissolution of Assembly.
Manipur 28 February 198118 June 1981Incumbent Government fell following defections. Governor did not permit an alternate government to be formed by People's Democratic Front on the basis of his assessment regarding stability of the proposed ministry.
Manipur 7 January 19927 April 1992Incumbent coalition Government fell following defections. president's rule imposed keeping assembly in suspension.
Manipur 31 December 199313 December 19941000 persons died in Naga-Kuki clashes and continued violence
Manipur 2 June 20016 March 2002Loss of majority
Meghalaya 11 October 19915 February 1992The Centre imposed president's rule in Meghalaya in the wake of a political crisis after the then Speaker PR Kyndiah suspended five MLAs, mostly independents, on grounds of defection.
Meghalaya 18 March 200912 May 2009Government dismissed after controversial confidence vote secured in the Assembly by CM Donkupar Roy
Mizoram 11 May 19771 June 1978Mizo Union Ministry led by Chief Minister Chhunga resigned in May 1977, ostensibly to facilitate the progress of peace talks. see Lost Opportunities: 50 Years of Insurgency in the North-east and India's Response, By S. P. Sinha, Page 95
Mizoram 10 November 19788 May 1979Chief Minister Sailo's refusal to grant undue favours caused dissension in his party which led to the fall of his government and imposition of president's rule. see Lost Opportunities: 50 Years of Insurgency in the North-east and India's Response, By S. P. Sinha, pages 96–97
Mizoram 7 September 198824 January 1989Defections reduced the Government to minority
Nagaland 20 March 197525 November 1977Defections and counter defections led to imposition of president's rule
Nagaland 7 August 198825 January 1989The state was under a brief spell of central rule again after the Hokishe Sema-led Congress government was reduced to a minority. The decision was challenged in the Supreme Court in held to be invalid in 1994.
Nagaland 2 April 199222 February 1993Fluid party position and deteriorating law and order situation
Nagaland 3 January 200812 March 2008Government dismissed after controversial confidence vote secured in the Assembly by CM Neiphiu Rio
Odisha 25 February 196123 June 1961Harekrishna Mahtab led Congress-Gantantra Parishad Minority Government resigned on 21 February 1961 due to differences in the Congress Party. President's rule was imposed on 25 February 1961.
Odisha 11 January 19713 April 1971Break-up of coalition
Odisha 3 March 19736 March 1974Facing imminent collapse of government, incumbent chief minister recommended dissolution of assembly and fresh elections.
Odisha 16 December 197629 December 1976Chief Minister Nandini Satpathy was forced out and assembly placed under suspended animation. A new Congress government was sworn in after revocation of president's rule.
Odisha 30 April 197726 June 1977Government dismissed in spite of Binayak Acharya enjoying majority support in Assembly
Odisha 17 February 19809 June 1980Government dismissed in spite of Nilamani Routray enjoying majority support in Assembly
Patiala and East Punjab States Union 5 March 19538 March 1954President's rule was invoked in the erstwhile PEPSU State when the Akali Dal government, led by Gian Singh Rarewala, was dismissed
Pondicherry 18 September 196817 March 1969Assembly was dissolved and president's rule imposed as opposition parties had a chance to form a government after the fall of the Congress government.
Pondicherry 3 January 19746 March 1974Assembly dissolved after fall of DMK government following decision of two ministers to join newly formed ADMK.
Pondicherry 28 March 19742 July 1977Fall of coalition government of ADMK, Congressfollowing division of votes by Congress and DMK. The Assembly was dissolved.
Pondicherry 12 November 197816 January 1980Fall of government due to political instability
Pondicherry 24 June 198316 March 1985Government dismissed following withdrawal of Congress from coalition government. In spite of incumbent chief minister asking for an opportunity to prove his majority on the floor of the house, the assembly was dissolved.
Pondicherry 4 March 19913 July 1991DMK Government dismissed in spite of having a majority in the Assembly
Punjab 20 June 195117 April 1952Pandit Nehru kept the Punjab Assembly in suspension for nine months and 28 days to help the state Congress government get its act together.
Punjab 5 July 19661 November 1966State administration was taken over, ostensibly to facilitate bifurcation of Punjab state into two, Punjab and Haryana
Punjab 23 August 196817 February 1969Break-up of coalition
Punjab 14 June 197117 March 1972Following poor performance in March, 1971 Lok Sabha Elections, incumbent Chief Minister advised dissolving state assembly and holding fresh elections to state legislature.
Punjab 30 April 197720 June 1977Government dismissed in spite of Giani Zail Singh enjoying majority support in Assembly
Punjab 17 February 19806 June 1980Government dismissed in spite of Parkash Singh Badal enjoying majority support in Assembly
Punjab 10 October 198329 September 1985Insurgency and breakdown of law and order
Punjab 11 May 198725 February 1992Insurgency and breakdown of law and order
Rajasthan 13 March 196726 April 1967Indecisive outcome of elections
Rajasthan 29 April 197722 June 1977Government dismissed in spite of Hari Dev Joshi enjoying majority support in Assembly
Rajasthan 16 February 19806 June 1980Government dismissed in spite of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat enjoying majority support in Assembly
Rajasthan 15 December 19924 December 1993Government dismissed in spite of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat enjoying majority support in Assembly
Sikkim 18 August 197818 October 1979Loss of majority following split in Kazi Lhendup Dorji led Janata Party government. The central government imposed president's rule and followed up with electoral reforms before ordering fresh elections.
Sikkim 25 May 19848 March 1985Congress Government formed following induced collapse of Nar Bahadur Bandari Sikkim Janata Parishad Government was dismissed as it did not enjoy a majority in the Assembly.
Tamil Nadu 5 January 197114 March 1971Government dismissed in spite of Chief minister Karunanidhi enjoying majority support in Assembly, as per request of the Chief minister to prepone elections.
Tamil Nadu 1 February 197629 June 1977Government dismissed in spite of Chief minister Karunanidhi enjoying majority support in Assembly, due to the Government not strictly enforcing provisions of Emergency rules.
Tamil Nadu 18 February 19808 June 1980Government dismissed in spite of Chief minister M G Ramachandran enjoying majority support in Assembly, due to Farmers Strike for subsidised electricity.
Tamil Nadu 31 January 198826 January 1989Government dismissed after controversial confidence vote secured in the Assembly by CM Janaki Ramachandran, after death of Chief minister M G Ramachandran.
Tamil Nadu 31 January 199123 June 1991Government headed by M. Karunanidhi dismissed by Prime Minister Chandrashekhar on charges of supporting anti-national activities, in spite of the then Governor Barnala's report and enjoying majority support in the Assembly.
Travancore-Cochin 23 March 19565 April 1957Loss of majority following split in Congress Party
Tripura 1 November 197120 March 1972In the backdrop of refugee influx due to Bangladesh Liberation War, split in the Congress and Communist agitation for Tripura to become a full-fledged state, president's rule was imposed. On 1 January 1972 Tripura became a State and assembly elections held subsequently.
Tripura 5 November 19775 January 1978Collapse of short lived government in a fluid political environment
Tripura 11 March 199310 April 1993Elections postponed from 15 February 1993 to 3 April 1993 on account of deteriorating law and order situation. Caretaker CM resigns.
Uttar Pradesh 25 February 196826 February 1969Loss of majority following withdrawal of support by Congress led by Indira Gandhi.
Uttar Pradesh 1 October 197018 October 1970Charan Singh Ministry supported by Congress collapsed following split in Congress party.
Uttar Pradesh 13 June 19738 November 1973Chief Minister resigned as a result of the 1973 Provincial Armed Constabulary revolt.
Uttar Pradesh 30 November 197521 January 1976Congress Government of H N Bahuguna tendered resignation due to infighting within the party.
Uttar Pradesh 30 April 197723 June 1977Government dismissed in spite of N D Tiwari enjoying majority support in Assembly.
Uttar Pradesh 17 February 19809 June 1980Government dismissed in spite of Banarasi Das enjoying majority support in Assembly.
Uttar Pradesh 6 December 19924 December 1993Government dismissed in the aftermath of the destruction of Babri Masjid-Ram Janmasthan.
Uttar Pradesh 18 October 199521 March 1997Loss of majority following collapse of coalition followed by indecisive outcome of fresh elections.
Uttar Pradesh 8 March 20023 May 2002Indecisive outcome of elections.
Uttarakhand 27 March 201621 April 2016Collapse of CM Harish Rawat's ministry following a split in the state unit of Congress party. In the hearing of related case, Uttarakhand High Court declared the president's rule imposition by the President unconstitutional and restored the Harish Rawat's led government in the state.
Uttarakhand 22 April 201611 May 2016Supreme Court of India held the stay on Uttarakhand High Court's verdict thus reinstating the president's rule in the state.
Vindhya Pradesh 8 April 194913 March 1952President's rule was imposed in the erstwhile Vindya Pradesh State when Chief Minister resigned. president's rule was revoked following independent India's first general elections.
West Bengal 1 July 19628 July 1962Interim Period between death of incumbent Chief Minister and election of new leader.
West Bengal 20 February 196825 February 1969State placed under president's rule following collapse of two successive short lived coalition governments.
West Bengal 19 March 19702 April 1971Collapse of United Front Coalition between Bangla Congress and CPI
West Bengal 28 June 197119 March 1972Collapse of United Front Coalition between Bangla Congress and CPI