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S.R.PANDIAN, YOGESHWAR DAYAL, S.C.AGRAWAL, P.B.SAWANT, K.RAMASWAMY, J.S.VERMA, B.P.JEEVAN REDDY, A.M.AHMADI, KULDIP SINGH
S. R. Bommai – Appellant
Versus
Union Of India – Respondent
Nature of Indian Constitution: The Constitution creates a federation with a bias in favor of the Centre; States are supreme within their allotted sphere, but Centre holds residuary powers, can alter State boundaries/names, and exercises significant financial/administrative control. (!) [1000356340012][1000356340013][1000356340015][1000356340016][1000356340017][1000356340018][1000356340019][1000356340020][1000356340021][1000356340022][1000356340023]
Federal Character: India is a quasi-federal structure mixing federal and unitary elements, leaning unitary; single citizenship, integrated judiciary, and emergency powers emphasize national unity over State sovereignty. (!) [1000356340012][1000356340013][1000356340014][1000356340015][1000356340016][1000356340017][1000356340018][1000356340019][1000356340020][1000356340021][1000356340022][1000356340023]
Secularism as Basic Feature: Secularism is embedded in the Constitution (explicit post-42nd Amendment); State treats all religions equally, religion irrelevant in State affairs; no State patronage to any religion; politics and religion cannot mix; unsecular State policies justify Article 356 action. (!) [1000356340024][1000356340025][1000356340026][1000356340027][1000356340028][1000356340029] (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!)
Article 356 Scope: Power exercised sparingly on President's subjective satisfaction (via Union Council of Ministers) that State government cannot function per Constitution; based on Governor's report or otherwise; not for good governance/maladministration but constitutional breakdown (e.g., internal subversion, physical breakdown). (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) [1000356340053][1000356340054][1000356340055][1000356340056][1000356340057][1000356340058][1000356340059][1000356340060]
Judicial Review Parameters: Proclamation reviewable for mala fides, irrelevant/extraneous grounds, or no material; not merits/adequacy; material must exist and be relevant; Article 74(2) bars inquiring advice but not underlying material (privilege under Evidence Act possible). (!) [1000356340031][1000356340032][1000356340033][1000356340034][1000356340035][1000356340040][1000356340041][1000356340042][1000356340043][1000356340044][1000356340045][1000356340046][1000356340047][1000356340048][1000356340052]
Governor's Role: Governor reports constitutional failure objectively; floor test obligatory for majority claims (except violence); hasty subjective assessments invalid; warnings/directions under Article 355 preferred before Article 356. [1000356340116][1000356340117][1000356340118][1000356340119][1000356340120][1000356340121]
Dissolution/Removal Timing: Suspend (not dissolve) Assembly until Parliament approves Proclamation; dissolution post-approval if necessary; invalid Proclamation restores government/Assembly. [1000356340110][1000356340111][1000356340112][1000356340113][1000356340114]
No Quia Timet Relief: No pre-Proclamation stay; interim stay possible post-Proclamation if live issue, but expedite disposal; no election stay if fait accompli. [1000356340049][1000356340050][1000356340115]
Karnataka Proclamation (21/04/1989): Invalid; Governor ignored floor test offer, relied on unverified letters/defections; no alternative government explored. [1000356340116][1000356340117][1000356340118][1000356340119]
Meghalaya Proclamation (11/10/1991): Invalid; Governor defied Supreme Court orders on voting rights, ignored floor test; Speaker manipulated disqualification/votes. [1000356340121][1000356340122][1000356340123]
Nagaland Proclamation (07/08/1988): Governor should have allowed floor test post-Chief Minister resignation; premature dissolution. [1000356340124]
MP/Rajasthan/HP Proclamations (15/12/1992): Valid; BJP governments' anti-secular actions (manifestos, kar sevak support, RSS links) post-Ayodhya demolition justified Centre's satisfaction of constitutional failure. [1000356340125][1000356340126][1000356340127][1000356340128][1000356340129][1000356340130][1000356340131][1000356340132][1000356340133][1000356340134][1000356340135][1000356340136][1000356340137][1000356340138][1000356340139][1000356340140][1000356340141][1000356340142][1000356340143][1000356340144][1000356340145][1000356340146][1000356340147][1000356340148][1000356340149][1000356340150][1000356340151]
Reliefs/Effects: No substantive reliefs (elections held); acts during invalid Proclamations valid; Parliament/State can review/validate. (!) [1000356340114][1000356340152][1000356340153]
Judgment
S. RATNAVEL PANDIAN
( 1 ) I have had the privilege of going through the erudite and scholarly judgments of my learned brothers making an exhaustive and in-depth analysis, evaluating the constitutional mechanism and exploring the whole realm of constitutional imperatives as envisaged by the Founding Fathers of the India n Constitution on Central-State relations and throwing abundant light on the controversial role of State governors inviting Presidents Rule and the mode by which the Union Cabinet and Parliament discharged their responsibility in this regard with reference to Articles 74 (2, 163, 355, 356, 357 and the other allied constitutional provisions
( 2 ) I find myself in agreement with the opinion of P. B. Sawant, J. on his conclusions 1, 2 and 4 to 8 with which B. P. Jeevan Reddy, J. concurs in his judgment (speaking for himself and on behalf of S. C. Agrawal, J.) but so far as the reasoning and other conclusions are concerned, I agree fully with the judgment of B. P. Jeevan Reddy, J. Yet I would like to give my brief opinion on the constitutional question of substantial importance in relation to the powers of the President to issue Proclamations under Article 356 (1 o
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