GK Question

polity medium fill_blank

Under Article 352, if one-tenth of Lok Sabha members requisition a special meeting, the House must consider a resolution for revocation of National Emergency, enabling ______ check on Emergency continuation.

  1. executive
  2. legislative
  3. judicial
  4. administrative

Answer: legislative

Legislative check on Emergency continuation: (a) 44th Amendment safeguard (1978): One-tenth of Lok Sabha members can requisition special meeting to consider resolution for revocation of National Emergency, (b) Procedure: (i) Requisition by one-tenth members triggers special meeting, (ii) Resolution for revocation passed by simple majority revokes Emergency, (iii) Ensures Emergency subject to continuous legislative scrutiny, not just initial approval, (c) Rationale: (i) Democratic oversight: Enable legislative check on Emergency continuation; prevent executive from perpetuating Emergency without Parliamentary consent, (ii) Political accountability: Government must justify Emergency continuation to Parliament, people, (iii) Prevent misuse: Prevents ruling party from imposing indefinite Emergency without broad support, (d) Applications: (i) Post-1978: Mechanism ensures Emergency reflects ongoing democratic consensus, not executive whim, (ii) Political accountability: Enhances democratic legitimacy of Emergency measures, (e) Illustrates democratic oversight: Legislative check ensures Emergency subject to continuous democratic scrutiny; balance between crisis response capacity and prevention of political misuse.

Topic Article 352 - One-Tenth Members Revocation Requisition
Exam Relevance Legislative check on Emergency frequently asked in UPSC Prelims and SSC exams