Extension of President’s Rule in Manipur

 Context:

• Lok Sabha passed a Statutory Resolution to extend President’s Rule in Manipur for six more months.

• Resolution to be ratified by Rajya Sabha for it to take effect.

• President’s Rule was first imposed in February 2025 after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh stepped down amid prolonged ethnic conflict.

Background:

• Ethnic conflict between:

  • Valley-based Meitei community

  • Hills-based Scheduled Tribe Kuki-Zo group

• The conflict had continued for nearly two years before the imposition of President’s Rule.

Government’s Position :

• Justification for extension:

  • Peace and normalcy are returning.

  • President’s Rule is still necessary to sustain this trend.

• Security improvements noted:

  • Only one incident of violence and one death in eight months.

  • No violence in the last four months.

Concept: President’s Rule (Article 356)

Constitutional Provision:

• Article 356 of the Indian Constitution allows the President of India to impose President’s Rule in a state.

• Invoked when the State Government cannot function as per the Constitution.

Grounds for Imposition:

• Failure of constitutional machinery in a state.

• Breakdown of law and order.

• Hung Assembly (no clear majority).

• Recommendation by the Governor of the state.

Procedure:

• Imposed initially for 6 months.

• Can be extended in 6-month intervals, up to 3 years (with Parliament's approval).

• Requires Parliamentary ratification within 2 months.

Effects:

• State legislature is either suspended or dissolved.

• Executive powers of the state are exercised by the Governor on behalf of the President.

• Union Government governs the state through the Governor.

Judicial Review:

• S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994):

  • Laid down conditions under which President’s Rule can be imposed and reviewed.

  • Supreme Court can strike down arbitrary use of Article 356.