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In SR Bommai v. Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court held that Presidential satisfaction under Article 356 for imposing President's Rule is subject to ______ review, and courts can examine whether satisfaction was based on objective material, not political considerations.
- legislative
- judicial
- executive
- administrative
Answer: judicial
SR Bommai (1994) judicial review of Presidential satisfaction: (a) Context: Challenge to President's Rule imposition in States (Karnataka, Meghalaya, Nagaland) based on Governor's reports alleging loss of majority, anti-secular activities, (b) Supreme Court holding: (i) Presidential satisfaction under Article 356 subject to judicial review, (ii) Courts can examine whether satisfaction based on objective material (Governor's report, Assembly proceedings, independent verification), not subjective opinion or political considerations, (iii) Floor test primary method to test majority; Governor cannot dismiss Ministry without testing majority on Assembly floor, (iv) Secularism part of basic structure; State government acting against secularism can justify Article 356, (c) Applications: (i) Rameshwar Prasad (2006): Struck down Bihar Assembly dissolution based on unverified media reports, political considerations, (ii) Recent Governor cases (2022-2024): Reiterated objective standards for Article 356 invocation, (iii) Federal balance: Protects State autonomy against Centre overreach via gubernatorial discretion, (d) Rationale: (i) Constitutional supremacy: Presidential power subject to constitutional limits, judicial oversight, (ii) Federal balance: Protects State autonomy against arbitrary Centre overreach, (iii) Democratic legitimacy: Ensures Article 356 used for genuine constitutional breakdown, not political ends, (e) Illustrates constitutional federalism: Judicial review as guardian of federal balance; objective standards, floor test principle ensure Governor acts as constitutional functionary, not political agent; State autonomy protected within unified framework.