President Rule in Manipur: Causes, Article 356 Provisions, and Legal Analysis

Introduction

President Rule in Manipur has been imposed by the Central Government under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The state assembly has been suspended, and the governance has been taken over by the Centre. However, before understanding the reasons behind this imposition, it is essential to comprehend what President’s Rule entails and the constitutional provisions and procedures under which it can be applied in a state. Let us delve deeper into the layers of this significant constitutional mechanism.

Let us move forward with our article for uncovering the layers of this rule.

President Rule

There are moments when a nation is unexpectedly overwhelmed by events or forces that pose a serious threat to its security and the lives of its citizens. In such critical situations, it may become necessary to temporarily suspend individual liberties to effectively address the dangers that are faced by the country. 

Emergencies create a genuine dilemma for democratic governments. This is because they must balance their fundamental duty to safeguard the integrity of the State and uphold equal yet vital responsibility to protect the human rights of citizens and others within their jurisdiction. The State is compelled to choose between conflicting values; often sacrificing one in favour of the other. 

This is the underlying justification for the inclusion of emergency provisions in many national Constitutions; allowing for the temporary suspension of fundamental rights when necessary.

Emergency provision is a unique feature of the Indian Constitution that allows the Centre to assume wide powers so as to handle special situations. 

During a state of emergency, the central government is empowered to assume complete legislative and executive authority over any state. It also has the power to restrict or suspend the fundamental freedoms of citizens. 

The presence of such emergency provisions in the Constitution is a major reason why many scholars hesitate to classify the Indian Constitution as entirely federal.

Emergency provisions

Emergency provision falls within Article 352 to Article 360 of the Indian Constitution. Let us study those.

  1. National emergency (Article 352)
  2. State emergency (Article 356)
  3. Financial emergency (Article 360)

Let us study in depth about Article 356

Article 356

Under Article 356, the Union Government is constitutionally obligated to ensure that the governance of every state is conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Thus Article 356 empowers the President of India to intervene when this obligation is not being met.

Under this Article, the President may proclaim to impose President’s Rule in a state if:

  • Based on the Governor’s report or any other source of information, he is satisfied that the state government cannot function under constitutional provisions. 

This situation is referred to as a “failure of constitutional machinery”, and results in what is famously known as President’s Rule.

Presidents Rule Implications

Now the question arises of what happens when the President’s Rule is imposed. There are major 3 controls that turn the federal structure into a strong unitary set:

  1. Executive Authority: The President may assume all or any of the functions of the state government, excluding those of the High Court.
  2. Legislative Authority: The powers of the state legislature may be exercised by or under the authority of the Parliament.
  3. Administrative Provisions: The President may make any other provisions necessary or desirable to implement the objectives of the proclamation.

There are some limitations to these powers as well or else it can harm the structure of our constitution.

Here, the President cannot assume the powers of the High Court nor suspend any constitutional provisions related to it which means the control over judiciary which is the cornerstone of democracy is absent.

The Procedure of its Imposition

The procedure to adopt this rule is not as simple as a walk in the park. It requires serious deliberation of the circumstances of the state. Like a National Emergency; a proclamation under Article 356 must be presented before both Houses of Parliament for approval. 

Let us look at how it is achieved. 

Approval Timeline

The Approval Timeline is two months if the Lok Sabha is dissolved during this period. Also, if the Rajya Sabha has approved the proclamation, then it remains valid for 30 days from the first sitting of the newly elected Lok Sabha, unless it is approved earlier by the Lok Sabha.

Once approved, the proclamation remains in effect for six months and can be extended for a further six months at a time but it cannot exceed beyond three years. 

The 44th Amendment placed restrictions on extending the President’s Rule beyond one year, ensuring that such extensions are not misused and that constitutional governance is restored as early as possible.

Since the adoption of the Constitution in 1950, the power under Article 356 has been frequently invoked, especially in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Punjab. 

There are many instances when the President’s Rule was imposed on political grounds to overturn the state governments formed by opposition parties. 

The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 expanded the scope of central control which expanded nearly sixty provisions of the Constitution and exemplified concerns over misuse.

As a result, there has been a growing demand among legal scholars and political thinkers to either delete this Article or introduce stricter safeguards to prevent its arbitrary or politically motivated use.

Supreme Court’s view regarding the President’s rule

The Supreme Court for the first time in S.R Bommai v. Union of India 1994, held that the Proclamation under Article 356 can be subject to judicial review. The judges here have the power to examine the validity of the grounds on which the Proclamation of Emergency is based.  

In the Sarbananda Sonowal case of 2005, the scope of Article 355 was widened which enabled the Union Government to take wider actions to uphold state governance during times of crisis. 

In the Maneka Gandhi case, the due procedure of law and the procedure established by law were mentioned. It was said that it must be followed to prevent corruption and misuse of power. It should be used as a conditional power and as a last resort with due care. 

The Sarkaria Commission, in its report, believes that this extraordinary power given by the constitution must be used as a democratic weapon to deal with grave emergencies and not as routine political tools. 

The Supreme Court further in the case of Minerva Mills and Others reaffirmed its authority to assess the legality of an emergency proclamation. It is observed that it should not hesitate to perform its constitutional duty merely because it involves considering political evaluations.

Need for the Presidential Rule in Manipur

Manipur state comprises of valley and hill area.  The valley which constitutes about 10% of the landmass is dominated by non-tribal Meitei(Kuki) who account for more than 64% of the population. The hill area which constitutes about 90% of the landmass is dominated by the tribal Meitei who accounts for 35% of population.

The communal clashes in Manipur began with fire after the Manipur High Court’s decision. The decision to provide Schedule Tribe status to the non-Meitei community. 

The tensions arose when Kuki began protesting against the demand for Meitei to be included in the ST list as they already have a strong influence over the government and society, allowing them to buy lands and settle in Kuki’s predominant areas. 

Rape and sexual harassment have been used as instruments of grave violence in the state which is spiralling into more revenge attacks. Thus, the centre believes that the imposition of the President’s rule will lead to a neutral administration as N.Biren Singh also belonged to the Meitei community.

This rule will remove the alleged ethnic conflicts protecting both the affected communities. The central forces deployed by the Governor can help control the horrors ending the internal dispute. It will further ensure the rehabilitation of around 60,000 displaced people in camps for over 2 months. 

Criticism of President’s Rule

The way the President’s Rule was imposed in different states has raised some grave concerns. Sometimes the situation is such that it requires this rule but at other times, the President’s Rule was imposed purely on political rivalry to just dislodge the government formed by a party different from the one at the Centre, even if that party secured a majority of votes during the time of election. 

Suspending these assemblies and not giving a chance to other political parties to form governments in states is hampering the democratic structure of our nation and this is all because of the partisan nature of the Union Government, for which Article 356 has been clearly misused.
Thus, the misuse of Article 356 has become a hot potato in Indian Constitutional debates sparking widespread criticism and calls for reform.  

Despite all the safeguards provided by the 44th Amendment Act, this provision has been misused by the Union Government. That is why there is a growing demand either to do away with this article or to draw a line to prevent its misuse through constitutional safeguards.

Conclusion

In view of the above facts, we can say that the Presidential rule in Manipur aims to restore stability and maintain law and order but the escalating violence, the past experiences tell us that applying this rule is like walking on eggshells as excessive use can lead to destruction of federalism and political misuse.


Mahi Srivastava ( Vivekanand Institute of Professional Studies – 1st year of BALLB )

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NUJS National Disability Law Moot 2025 – India’s 1st Moot on Disability Rights

NUJS National Disability Law Moot 2025 – A Historic Step Toward Inclusive Legal Advocacy

The NUJS National Disability Law Moot 2025 is India’s first national-level moot court competition dedicated solely to the legal rights of persons with disabilities (PwDs). Organized by the prestigious West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata, this competition sets a new precedent in legal education by focusing exclusively on disability law.

With a history of hosting top-tier events such as the NUJS-HSF Moot, ADR Mediation Competition, and Para-Invicta, NUJS continues its tradition of promoting inclusivity and justice with this pioneering initiative.

What Is the NUJS National Disability Law Moot 2025 About?

This moot is designed to:

  • Encourage legal scholarship in disability law
  • Highlight critical themes like workplace discrimination, inclusive education, and accessibility
  • Create a national platform for future legal professionals to explore and argue real-world issues under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

The competition includes:

  • Memorial Qualification Round
  • Offline Oral Rounds at the WBNUJS campus in Kolkata
  • Researcher’s Test for qualifying teams

Key Dates and Deadlines

EventDate
Registration OpensMay 30, 2025
Clarification DeadlineJune 25, 2025
Registration ClosesJune 30, 2025
Memorial SubmissionJuly 12, 2025
Oral Round ShortlistJuly 21, 2025
Oral Rounds at WBNUJSAugust 21–24, 2025

Eligibility & Team Composition

  • Open to undergraduate law students in any Indian university
  • 2 to 3 members per team
  • Cross-college teams allowed
  • No cap on the number of teams per institution
  • Postgraduate students are not eligible

Awards & Recognition

The NUJS National Disability Law Moot 2025 offers extensive awards, including:

  • Winning, Runners-Up & Second Runners-Up Teams
  • Best Advocate (Prelims and Overall)
  • Best Memorials (Petitioner & Respondent)
  • Best Researcher & Runner-Up
  • Certificates for Semi- and Quarter-Finalists
  • Participation certificates for all teams

Registration Fees & Optional Accommodation

  • Memo Round Fee: ₹2,500/team
    • ₹2,100 for teams with at least one PwD participant
  • Oral Round Fee (for shortlisted teams): ₹2,000
  • Accommodation (optional): ₹5,500/team (August 21–24)

Payment Details:

  • Account Name: Student Juridical Association
  • Account No: 520101246976299
  • IFSC Code: UBIN0906638
  • Bank: Union Bank, NUJS Branch, Salt Lake, Kolkata

Registration Process

  1. Fill the official Google Form: https://forms.gle/sZHKXriWTy4EEfGL8
  2. Email the following to nationaldisabilitymoot@nujs.edu:
    • Names, Years, and Institutions of team members
    • College ID Cards
    • Payment screenshot

Contact Details

  • Email: nationaldisabilitymoot@nujs.edu
  • Chair: Kinjal Das – +91 75959 65675
  • Deputy Chairs:
    • Anushka Maji – +91 86174 78308
    • Saarthak Samadder – +91 94330 48880
  • Board of Directors:
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    • Shubhankar Singha – +91 96797 30493

Final Words

The NUJS National Disability Law Moot 2025 is not just another moot—it’s a platform for change. By promoting awareness of the challenges faced by PwDs through legal debate, WBNUJS is nurturing future lawyers who will lead the way in accessibility and justice.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of history. Register today and join us in Kolkata for a groundbreaking legal experience.


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The Relentless Struggles of a First-Generation Lawyer: My Journey from District Court to High Court

The Struggles of a First-Generation Lawyer: My Journey from District Court to High Court

Last week, I had an interesting conversation with a junior advocate practicing in the District Court. I asked him why he was always appearing for wrongdoers in his cases. His response resonated deeply with me:

“I’m a first-generation lawyer. I don’t have the option to reject a case, even if it’s bad.”

His words stirred up memories of my early days in the legal profession. I, too, had faced similar struggles—survival was the priority, not choice.

Challenges of a First-Generation Lawyer

Starting a career in law without family connections comes with its own set of hurdles. The two biggest challenges every first-generation lawyer faces in their initial years are:

  1. Getting Cases – Clients prefer experienced advocates, making it difficult for newcomers to establish trust and secure work.
  2. Paying Rent – Financial survival is an everyday struggle, especially for those who are newly married and have family responsibilities.

I consider myself lucky because my landlord was kind enough to allow me to pay rent whenever I started earning. But for most junior advocates, managing living expenses without a steady income is one of the hardest realities of this profession.

Lessons from My Juniorship

During my early days, I worked under a senior lawyer. He had an interesting approach to practice—he didn’t just sit in the office waiting for clients. Instead, he actively built his network by:

  • Meeting local newspaper editors.
  • Interacting with police officers.
  • Engaging in community welfare activities.

This was how he got cases. His real earnings didn’t come from walk-in clients but from the relationships he built outside his office.

One day, while sitting in his office, I found an old book on how junior advocates can get cases (published in 1982). Though the book may not be available now, I still remember its key advice:

  • Attend social functions like weddings, funerals, and political gatherings.
  • Visit temples and other places of social interactions to meet people.
  • Be visible in legal circles and introduce yourself whenever possible.

This made me realize that legal practice is as much about networking as it is about knowledge.

My Transition to High Court

After shifting to the Gujarat High Court, I knew I had to expand my network. From Friday night to Sunday night, I traveled to different district courts by night buses to introduce myself to local lawyers.

Initially, I only got small, hopeless cases—cases that no senior lawyer wanted to take. But I had no option to reject them. Every case was an opportunity to learn and survive.

Handling such difficult cases eventually helped me develop expertise in dealing with challenging legal situations. Over time, those small, seemingly insignificant cases paved the way for bigger opportunities.

The Reality of a Lawyer’s Growth

A first-generation lawyer doesn’t have the luxury to be selective about cases in the early years. Every single case—no matter how weak or low-paying—helps in learning and growing.

Law practice is not just about knowing the law. It’s about perseverance, networking, and patience.

Young lawyers today should understand that the struggle in the beginning is temporary. The hard work, dedication, and connections you build during the initial years will shape your future success.

Final Thoughts

If you are a junior lawyer, embrace the struggle. Don’t hesitate to take on small cases. Use every opportunity to meet people and build your professional network.

Your early hardships will one day become your greatest strength. Stay persistent, keep learning, and keep growing.


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