polity hard Fill in the Blank

In SR Bommai v. Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court emphasized that Governor's report recommending President's Rule must promote constitutional adaptation by enabling crisis response while preserving ______ identity.

  1. political
  2. constitutional
  3. administrative
  4. executive

Answer: constitutional

Constitutional adaptation under SR Bommai: (a) Context: Challenge to President's Rule imposition violating constitutional adaptation, (b) Supreme Court holding: (i) Governor's report must promote constitutional adaptation: Enabling crisis response while preserving constitutional identity, (ii) Constitutional breakdown narrowly defined: Genuine inability to function in accordance with Constitution, not mere political instability, (iii) Judicial review: Courts examine whether report promotes constitutional adaptation, not just procedural compliance, (c) Applications: (i) Post-1994: Courts more willing to strike down Article 356 proclamations violating constitutional adaptation, (ii) Federal balance: Protects State autonomy against arbitrary Centre overreach via gubernatorial discretion, (d) Rationale: (i) Democratic legitimacy: Elected State governments represent people's will; Article 356 exceptional measure, not routine tool, (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: Constitutional adaptation requirement protects State autonomy; judicial review ensures Article 356 used for genuine crises, not political convenience.

Topic Article 356 - Governor's Report and Constitutional Adaptation
Exam Relevance Constitutional adaptation under Article 356 critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams