GK Question

polity hard fill_blank

Under Article 352, the President's satisfaction for proclaiming National Emergency must be based on ______ material, and post-44th Amendment, is subject to judicial review to prevent political misuse.

  1. subjective
  2. objective
  3. confidential
  4. partisan

Answer: objective

Presidential satisfaction under Article 352: (a) Constitutional text: President may proclaim Emergency if satisfied that security of India/threatened by war, external aggression, or armed rebellion, (b) 44th Amendment safeguard (1978): (i) Satisfaction must be based on objective material, not subjective opinion or political consideration, (ii) Judicial review permitted: Courts can examine whether satisfaction based on objective material, not mala fide or political considerations, (c) Applications: (i) Post-1978: Courts more willing to examine whether Emergency proclamation based on objective material, not political pretext, (ii) Rights protection: Ensures Emergency used for genuine existential threats, not political suppression, (d) Rationale: (i) Constitutional supremacy: Presidential satisfaction subject to constitutional limits, judicial oversight, (ii) Rights protection: Prevents Emergency used to suppress rights, democracy, (iii) Democratic accountability: Ensures Emergency reflects genuine crisis, not political convenience, (e) Illustrates calibrated emergency powers: Objective material requirement ensures Emergency based on genuine crisis; judicial review prevents political misuse while preserving crisis response capacity.

Topic Article 352 - Emergency and Presidential Satisfaction
Exam Relevance Presidential satisfaction under Article 352 critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams