S.R. Bommai v. Union of India
Breaking News: CURBS ON PRESIDENT'S RULE: CENTER CANNOT DISMISS STATE GOVERNMENTS AT WILL!
Protecting State Governments
Case Summary
Limited the power of the Center to dismiss State governments arbitrarily.
The Full Story & Context
In 1989, the Karnataka government led by S.R. Bommai was dismissed by the President. Bommai didn't give up. He fought all the way to the Supreme Court to prove that his government still had the majority. This case defined the relationship between the Center and the States.
Key Legal Players
- Bench: 9-Judge Bench
- Chief Justice:
The Verdict
The President's power to dismiss a State government is not absolute. It is subject to Judicial Review. The majority must be tested on the 'floor of the house'.
Legal & Democratic Impact
It made it very difficult for the Center to misuse Article 356. It strengthened the federal identity of India.
Simple Analogy
It's like a rule that says a Principal cannot fire a teacher just because they have different ideas; the teacher must be judged by their performance in the classroom.