GK Question

polity hard true_false

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 recommended action complies with constitutional principles like secularism, democracy, federalism.

  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Constitutional principles compliance under SR Bommai: (a) Context: Challenge to President's Rule imposition violating constitutional principles, (b) Supreme Court holding: (i) Judicial review includes examining whether recommended action complies with constitutional principles (secularism, democracy, federalism, rule of law), (ii) State government acting against constitutional principles can justify Article 356, but action must genuinely threaten principles, not mere political disagreement, (iii) Courts examine whether action complies with basic structure, not just procedural compliance, (c) Applications: (i) Secularism test: State policies promoting religious discrimination can trigger Article 356, but courts examine genuine threat, not political pretext, (ii) Democracy test: Loss of majority verified through floor test, not Governor's subjective assessment, (iii) Federalism test: Protects State autonomy against arbitrary Centre overreach, (d) Rationale: (i) Constitutional supremacy: Governor's report subject to constitutional limits, judicial oversight, (ii) Federal balance: Protects State autonomy while enabling Union to preserve constitutional order, (iii) Democratic legitimacy: Ensures Article 356 used for genuine constitutional breakdown, not political ends, (e) Illustrates constitutional federalism: Constitutional principles compliance requirement protects State autonomy; judicial review ensures Article 356 used for genuine crises, not political convenience.

Topic Article 356 - Governor's Report and Constitutional Principles
Exam Relevance Constitutional principles compliance critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams