Emergency - Pol science

Emergency (1975–77)

Period from June 1975 to March 1977 when constitutional emergency was imposed in India

Article 352

Provision of the Constitution under which national emergency is declared

Internal disturbance

Reason cited for declaring Emergency in 1975

Proclamation of Emergency

Issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed on 25 June 1975

Prime Minister during Emergency

Indira Gandhi

Economic crisis

Inflation, unemployment and food shortage created public dissatisfaction

Political opposition

Growing protests led by opposition parties

JP Movement

Mass movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan against corruption and misrule

Allahabad High Court judgement

Court declared Indira Gandhi’s election invalid in 1975

Political instability

Fear of breakdown of law and order

Suspension of Fundamental Rights

Citizens could not approach courts for enforcement of rights

Press censorship

Strict control over newspapers and media

Arrest of opposition leaders

Leaders were jailed under preventive detention laws

Ban on protests

Public meetings and strikes were prohibited

Role of Sanjay Gandhi

Influenced policies like forced sterilisation and slum clearance

Withdrawal of Emergency

March 1977

General elections 1977

First election after Emergency

Defeat of Congress

Congress party lost power

Janata Party

Formed government after 1977 elections