GK Question

polity hard mcq

During a National Emergency under Article 352, India's obligations under international human rights treaties:

  1. Are automatically suspended
  2. Continue to apply, and Emergency measures must comply with international law principles of necessity, proportionality
  3. Are replaced by domestic emergency laws
  4. Apply only to Union government, not State governments

Answer: Continue to apply, and Emergency measures must comply with international law principles of necessity, proportionality

International law during Emergency: (a) Constitutional principle: India's international obligations continue during Emergency; domestic law interpreted to comply with international law where possible, (b) International human rights law: (i) Treaties like ICCPR permit derogation from certain rights during public emergency, but core rights (life, prohibition of torture) non-derogable, (ii) Principles of necessity, proportionality: Emergency measures must be necessary for crisis response, proportionate to threat, (iii) Judicial interpretation: Indian courts increasingly refer to international law principles in interpreting constitutional provisions, including Emergency powers, (c) Applications: (i) Post-1978: Courts examine whether Emergency measures comply with international law principles of necessity, proportionality, (ii) Rights protection: Ensures Emergency measures respect core human rights, even during crisis, (d) Rationale: (i) Constitutional supremacy: International law informs constitutional interpretation, especially for rights protection, (ii) Democratic legitimacy: India's international commitments reflect democratic consensus on human rights, (iii) Global accountability: Compliance with international law enhances India's global standing, democratic credibility, (e) Illustrates constitutional internationalism: International law principles inform Emergency powers interpretation; balance between crisis response capacity and human rights protection through necessity, proportionality principles.

Topic Article 352 - Emergency and International Law
Exam Relevance International law during Emergency critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams