Among the following statements which are true about the imposition of Emergency in 1975 ?

(i) It was imposed under Article 352 of the Constitution.

(ii) The proclamation of Emergency suspended the federal provisions of the Constitution and Fundamental Rights and Civil liberties.

(iii) A series of decrees, laws and constitutional amendments reduced the power of judiciary to check the functioning of the executive.

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

Kerala PSC Common Preliminary Exam (GRADUATE LEVEL) PYP - 096/21

Answer 1

The correct answer is Option 4.

Key Points

The Emergency of 1975 was imposed under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution.
The proclamation of Emergency led to the suspension of federal provisions, Fundamental Rights, and civil liberties, which curtailed personal freedoms significantly.
A series of decrees and constitutional amendments during the Emergency reduced the judiciary's power to check the functioning of the executive, ensuring that the executive had unchecked authority.
All three statements (i, ii, and iii) about the imposition of Emergency in 1975 are correct, making Option 4 the valid choice.

Additional Information

Article 352: This article allows the President of India to proclaim a national emergency if there is a threat to the security of India or any part of its territory due to war, external aggression, or armed rebellion.
Suspension of Fundamental Rights: During the 1975 Emergency, Fundamental Rights under Part III of the Constitution, including Article 19 (freedom of speech and expression), were suspended, severely restricting individual freedoms.
Judiciary's Role and Limitations: The judiciary's independence was curtailed during this period. Constitutional amendments, such as the 42nd Amendment Act, were introduced to limit the judiciary's ability to review executive actions.
Historical Context: The Emergency was declared on June 25, 1975, by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed on the advice of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, citing internal disturbances. It lasted until March 21, 1977.
Impact of Emergency: The press was censored, political opponents were arrested, elections were postponed, and various policies were implemented without parliamentary approval.