Main Article Content
Abstract
The fact is that Article-356 is one of the most controversial issue in Centre-State Relations since 1967. Most of the scholars agree with the fact that there was a sharp rise in the misuse of Article 356 from 1967 onwards. However, it was used rarely during the first two decades after independence, the most celebrated case being the dismissal of an elected Communist Government of Kerala, in 1959 and President’s rule was imposed on eight occasions during the Prime Ministerial tenure of Nehru and Shastri from 1950 to 1966. But, it became more common after Fourth General Elections in 1967 which brought a major change in the political map of the country by breaking the monopolistic control of twenty years of uninterrupted Congress rule in India. Moreover, President’s rule in this phase of coalitional era (1967-1972) was imposed in as many as 18 times, mostly go get rid to non-Congress Governments by the Congress-led Centre.