GK Question

polity hard fill_blank

In SR Bommai v. Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court held that judicial review of Governor's report under Article 356 includes examining whether procedural requirements like ______ were complied with before recommending President's Rule.

  1. media consultation
  2. floor test
  3. public referendum
  4. party consultation

Answer: floor test

Procedural compliance under SR Bommai: (a) Context: Challenge to President's Rule imposition without procedural compliance in multiple States, (b) Supreme Court holding: (i) Judicial review includes examining whether procedural requirements complied with before recommending President's Rule, (ii) Key procedural requirement: Floor test to verify majority before dismissal of Ministry, (iii) Other procedural requirements: Objective material verification, independent inquiry, consultation with Council of Ministers where possible, (c) Applications: (i) Post-1994: Courts more willing to strike down Article 356 proclamations without procedural compliance, (ii) Federal balance: Protects State autonomy against arbitrary Centre overreach via procedural safeguards, (d) Rationale: (i) Democratic legitimacy: Procedural compliance ensures Article 356 reflects genuine constitutional breakdown, not political convenience, (ii) Constitutional morality: Governor as constitutional functionary, not political agent, (iii) Judicial oversight: Courts ensure Article 356 used for genuine constitutional breakdown, not political ends, (e) Illustrates constitutional federalism: Procedural compliance requirement protects State autonomy; judicial review ensures Article 356 used for genuine crises, not political convenience.

Topic Article 356 - Governor's Report and Procedural Compliance
Exam Relevance Procedural compliance under Article 356 critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams