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In SR Bommai v. Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court held that dissolution of State Assembly under Article 356 is not automatic and can be revived if the proclamation is struck down by courts. This safeguard primarily protects:
- Union executive power
- State legislative autonomy and democratic mandate
- Judicial supremacy over Parliament
- Governor's discretionary powers
Answer: State legislative autonomy and democratic mandate
SR Bommai Assembly dissolution safeguard: (a) Context: Challenge to President's Rule imposition with Assembly dissolution in multiple States, (b) Supreme Court holding: (i) Assembly dissolution not automatic consequence of Article 356 proclamation, (ii) If proclamation struck down by court, Assembly can be revived with Ministry restored, (iii) Floor test primary method to test majority before dissolution considered, (c) Rationale: (i) Democratic mandate: Elected Assembly represents people's will; dissolution should be last resort, not first step, (ii) Federal balance: Protects State autonomy against arbitrary Centre overreach, (iii) Constitutional morality: Governor, President act as constitutional functionaries, not political agents, (d) Applications: (i) Post-1994: Courts more willing to revive Assemblies if proclamation invalidated, (ii) Political accountability: Governments must justify dissolution with objective material, not political convenience, (e) Illustrates democratic federalism: Assembly dissolution safeguard ensures State legislative autonomy protected; judicial review prevents arbitrary deprivation of democratic mandate.