Emergency Provisions: Articles 355 & 356

Articles 355 & 356 are part of Part XVIII of the Indian Constitution.

Article 355:

The Centre is tasked with protecting States from internal disturbances and ensuring they function constitutionally.

Article 356:

Imposition of President’s Rule if the State's government fails to function constitutionally.

Judicial Views:

• S R Bommai Case, 1994: Restricted misuse of Article 356; it must be for a breakdown of constitutional machinery, not just law and order issues.
• Article 355: Expanded scope, allowing broader Union actions to ensure constitutional governance.

Recommendations:

• Sarkaria Commission (1987): Article 356 should be used rarely, as a last resort.
• National Commission (2002) & Punchhi Commission (2010): Article 355 requires Union action; President's Rule as a last resort. Punchhi Commission suggests localized emergency provisions.

Merger of Manipur with India:

Independence: Manipur became sovereign in 1947.

Constitution: Elections were held in 1948.

Merger Agreement: Maharaja Bodhchandra signed the Merger Agreement in Shillong in 1949.

Integration: Manipur officially joined India on October 15, 1949.

Statehood: Granted full statehood in 1972.