Constitutional Validity of the President's Proclamation under the 44th Constitutional Amendment
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44th Amendment Act:
- Introduced to prevent misuse of emergency provisions.
- Requires that the President can proclaim an emergency only when there is a "grave emergency" that threatens the security of India due to war, external aggression, or armed rebellion.
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Article *:
- States that the President must be satisfied that such a grave emergency exists.
- The satisfaction must be based on the written advice of the Council of Ministers.
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Revocation:
- The proclamation can be revoked if it is found that there is no actual threat.
- The 44th Amendment also allows the revocation of emergency by a simple majority in both Houses of Parliament.
Given the exaggerated intelligence and lack of actual aggression, the proclamation's validity can be questioned.
Scope of Judicial Review
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Judicial Review:
- Courts have the power to review the validity of the proclamation.
- They can examine whether the President's satisfaction was based on relevant and correct information.
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Grounds for Review:
- If it is established that the proclamation was based on exaggerated or false intelligence, it could be declared invalid.
Impact on Federal Structure and Fundamental Rights
- Federal Structure:
- During an emergency, the Centre can legislate on subjects in the State List, disrupting the federal balance.
- This centralization of power can affect state autonomy.
- Fundamental Rights (Article *):
- The suspension of rights under Article * impacts freedoms such as speech, assembly, and movement.
- Such suspensions are subject to scrutiny, especially if the emergency grounds are questionable.
Would you like more detailed information on any specific aspect?