The crisis of democratic order
1. State whether the following statements regarding the Emergency are
correct or incorrect.
(a) It was declared in 1975 by Indira Gandhi.
(b) It led to the suspension of all fundamental rights.
(c) It was proclaimed due to the deteriorating economic conditions.
(d) Many Opposition leaders were arrested during the emergency.
(e) CPI supported the proclamation of the Emergency.
Answer: (a) Correct, (b) Correct, (c) Wrong,
(d) Correct, (e) Correct.
2. Find the odd one out in the context of proclamation of Emergency
(a) The call for ‘Total Revolution.
(b) The Railway Strike of 1974
(c) The Naxalite Movement
(d) The Allahbad High Court verdict
(e) The findings of the Shah Commission Report
Answer: (c) The Naxalite Movement
3. Match the following
(a) Total Revolution i. Indira Gandhi
(b) Garibi hatao ii. Jayaprakash Narayan
(c) Students’ Protest iii. Bihar Movement
(d) Railway Strike iv. George Fernandes
Answer: (a)-(iii), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iv).
4. What were the reasons which led to the mid-term elections in 1980?
Answer:
1. Janata Dal lacked direction, leadership and a common programme.
2. The Janata Party government failed to bring about fundamental changes in the policies pursued by the Congress.
3. There was a split in the government led by the Janata Party and Morarji Desai which lost its majority in less than 18 months.
4. The Charan Singh government was formed for the support of the Congress party which later decided to withdraw its support resulting in the resignation of the Charan Singh government within four months.
5. All the above factors led to the mid-term elections of 1980, which defeated the Janata Party and the Congress led by Indira Gandhi won 353 seats and came back to power.
5. The Shah Commission was appointed in 1977 by the Janata Party Government. Why was it appointed and what were its findings?
Answer:
The Shah Commission was appointed in May 1977 by the Janata Party government headed by JC Shah, retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India to look into:
1. The charges of abuse, excessive and abuse of authority as well as measures taken in the name of the state of emergency were announced on 25 June
2. The Commission made a demonstration of examining various evidences to testify including Indira Gandhi to appear before the Commission, but she refused to answer any questions.
Shah Commission Results:
(a) It found many 'excesses' made in emergencies.
(b) About 111,000 people were arrested under the Preventive Detention Act.
(c) Press censorship was conducted without any proper legal sanctions.
(d) Even the General Manager of the Delhi Power Supply Corporation received verbal instructions from the officers of the Deputy Governor of Delhi at 2 a.m. on June 26, 1975 to reduce power to all newspaper presses.
6. What reasons did the Government give for declaring a National
Emergency in 1975?
Answer:
The state of emergency was declared in response to a petition filed by Raj Narayan to declare Indira Gandhi's election illegal.
(I) On June 25, 1975, the government declared a threat of internal confusion to invoke Article 352 of the Constitution.
(II) Article 352 may declare a state of emergency on the grounds of internal or external confusion.
(Third) The government decides on a serious crisis to declare a state of emergency to bring law and order, restore efficiency and implement pro-poor welfare programmes.
(IV) President Fakhruddin Adi Ahmed declared a state of emergency which became the most controversial episode in Indian politics.
7. The 1977 elections for the first time saw the Opposition coming into
power at the Centre. What would you consider as the reasons for this
development?
Answer:
The 1977 elections developed into a surprise event for everyone as the Congress Party was defeated for the first time and the Opposition came to power:
1. The opposition had earlier adopted the slogan 'Save Democracy' against the imposition of the state of emergency.
2. The opposition propagated the undemocratic character of the regime which provided various excesses.
3. The opposition highlighted preventive detention and press censorship in favor of public opinion.
4. The Janata Party also ensured that non-Congress votes were not divided.
5. The central part of North India was moving away from the Congress for which the Janata Party became a platform.
6. Therefore, the 1977 elections triggered many other factors besides the state of emergency.
8. Discuss the effects of Emergency on the following aspects of our polity.
• Effects on civil liberties for citizens.
• Impact on relationship between the Executive and Judiciary
• Functioning of Mass Media
• Working of the Police and Bureaucracy.
Answer:
(a) Impact on civil liberties for citizens:
1. The government made a large number of arrests under preventive detention.
2. The arrested political figures could not challenge the arrest even under a habeas corpus petition.
3. Despite many petitions, the government claimed that there was no need to inform the arrested persons.
4. In April 1976, it was finally proved that the Government could deprive citizens of their right to life and liberty by overruling the Supreme Court under the Supreme Court and accept the appeal of the Government.
(b) Impact on the relationship between the executive and the judiciary:
1. Parliament introduced many new changes in the Constitution which amended the election of the Prime Minister, President and Vice¬President by declaring that they could not be challenged in the courts.
2. The 42nd Amendment was also passed to make several changes in the Constitution like the term of the Legislative Assembly, can be postponed by an election
year in emergencies.
9. In what way did the imposition of Emergency affect the party system in
India? Elaborate your answer with examples.
Answer:
(c) Mass Media Activities:
1. Press censorship occurred which restricted the freedom of media and newspapers which were supposed to withhold their prior approval
Disclosure of any material i.e. RSS and Janata Dwip were banned.
2. Protests, strikes and public movements were also prohibited.
3. Various fundamental rights including the right to go to court for restoration of fundamental rights were also suspended.
4. Kannada writer Shivaram Karanth was awarded the Padma Bhushan and Hindi writer Fanishwarnath Lenu was awarded the Padma Shri and their awards were returned in protest against the suspension of democracy.
5. Newspapers, mainly the Indian Express, and the politician protested against censorship by leaving the space where the news was censored.
(d) Police and bureaucratic functions:
See parts (a) + (b) of the same question.
(c) Mass Media Activities:
1. Press censorship occurred which restricted the freedom of media and newspapers which were supposed to withhold their prior approval
Disclosure of any material i.e. RSS and Janata Dwip were banned.
2. Protests, strikes and public movements were also prohibited.
3. Various fundamental rights including the right to go to court for restoration of fundamental rights were also suspended.
4. Kannada writer Shivaram Karanth was awarded the Padma Bhushan and Hindi writer Fanishwarnath Lenu was awarded the Padma Shri and their awards were returned in protest against the suspension of democracy.
5. Newspapers, mainly the Indian Express, and the politician protested against censorship by leaving the space where the news was censored.
(d) Police and bureaucratic functions:
See parts (a) + (b) of the same question.
10. Read the passage and answer the questions below:
Indian democracy was never so close to a two-party system as it was
during the 1977 elections. However, the next few years saw a complete
change. Soon after its defeat, the Indian National Congress split into
two groups……….. … … …The Janata Party also went through major
convulsions…..David Butler, Ashok Lahiri and Prannoy Roy. — Partha
Chatterjee
(a) What made the party system in India look like a two-party system in
1977?
(b) Many more than two parties existed in 1977. Why then are the
authors describing this period as close to a two-party system?
(c) What caused splits in Congress and the Janata parties?
Answer: (a) The imposition of emergency in 1977 and political crisis made the party system in India look like a two-party system.
(b) Two parties existed in 1977 were Congress and non-Congress parties to be described as close to two party system because it ended the one party dominance and emerged Janata Party, umbrella of non¬Congress parties.
(c) Split in Congress: Congress splitted on the issues of presidential elections in 1969. Split in Janata Party: On tensions among three leaders Morarji Desai, Charan Singh and Jagjivan Ram for leadership in 1979.
