Mains Syllabus : GS II – issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure; Parliament - Functioning.

Why in news?

Lok Sabha has ratified President’s Rule in Manipur amidst ongoing ethnic conflict and administrative breakdown.

What is President's rule?

• President’s rule ( State emergency) - It refers to the suspension of a state government and the imposition of direct rule of the Centre.
• The central government takes direct control of the state in question and the Governor becomes its constitutional head.
• Duty of the center - Article 355 directs the Centre to ensure that the government of every state is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
• It is this duty in the performance of which the Centre takes over the government of a state under Article 356 in case of failure of constitutional machinery in state.
• Grounds of imposition - The President’s Rule can be proclaimed under on two grounds
  • Article 356 – When a state government cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
  • Article 365 - When a state fails to comply with or to give effect to any direction from the Centre.
• Effect of proclamation - when the President’s Rule is imposed in a state, the President dismisses the state council of ministers headed by the chief minister.
• The state governor, on behalf of the President, carries on the state administration.
• President either suspends or dissolves the state legislative assembly.

What is the role of Parliament in President’s rule?

• Holding executive accountability –Parliament debates the reasons and necessity for imposing President's Rule and discusses the performance of president rule in state.
• Safeguarding democratic processes – Parliament protects the democratic process in the state by preventing arbitrary imposition and continuation of President’s rule.
• Approving President’s rule - A proclamation imposing President’s Rule must be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within two months from the date of its issue, else it will be revoked.
• If approved by both the Houses of Parliament, the President’s Rule continues for six months.

Every resolution approving the proclamation of President’s Rule or its  continuation can be passed by either House of Parliament only by a simple majority

• Extending the rule – The rule can be extended for a maximum period of three years  with the approval of the Parliament, every six months.
• State legislative work – When President either suspends or dissolves the state legislative assembly, the Parliament passes the state  legislative bills and the state budget.

What are the major challenges in implementing President’s rule in Manipur?

• Controlling violence - May 3 would be three years since the ethnic violence broke out and controlling it will be the major challenge .
• Unrecovered arms - Weapons looted during the riots remain untraced and armed groups continue to dominate parts of the state.
• Lack of coordination - State police and Assam Rifles lacked operational synergy and has poor coordination.
• Displacement crisis - Displaced Kuki-Zo people have lost homes, essential documents such as voter IDs and academic certificates.
• Thousands remain in relief camps without identity or land documents.
• Building public faith – The violence and lose of life and property in the sides have eroded people’s faith in police system.
• Restoring the confidence of people in the state’s ability to protect them will be a difficult task.
• Connectivity disruption - Ethnic violence has stalled infrastructure like India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway (1,360 km) which is aimed at linking Manipur to Southeast Asia.

Way Forward

• Restoring trust - Immediate confidence-building measures among communities.
• Rehabilitation - Rebuilding homes, schools, and religious institutions destroyed in the violence.
• Disarmament - Recover looted weapons and ensure only state forces maintain law and order.
• Dialogue process - Initiate inter-community dialogue for long-term peace between communities.
• Address budgetary imbalance - Budgetary imbalance between the Imphal Valley (mostly Meitei groups) and hill districts (home to Kuki-Zo tribal groups) which is a major cause of ethnic tensions needs to addressed.
• Empower local leaders - Encourage civil society and tribal leaders to participate in peace-building.
• Regular parliamentary oversight - Continuous updates and debates in Parliament to ensure national attention.

Reference

Indian Express | President's rule in Manipur