GK Question

polity hard true_false

In SR Bommai v. Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court emphasized that Governor's report recommending President's Rule must promote constitutional resilience by preserving core constitutional features even during crisis.

  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Constitutional resilience under SR Bommai: (a) Context: Challenge to President's Rule imposition violating constitutional resilience, (b) Supreme Court holding: (i) Governor's report must promote constitutional resilience: Preserving core constitutional features (basic structure) even during crisis, (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 resilience, not just procedural compliance, (c) Applications: (i) Post-1994: Courts more willing to strike down Article 356 proclamations violating constitutional resilience, (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 resilience requirement protects State autonomy; judicial review ensures Article 356 used for genuine crises, not political convenience.

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