Article 356, commonly known as President’s rule deals with “Failure of constitutional machinery in the State”. It empowers the Central government to deal with such a situation. It is also sometimes called State Emergency or Constitutional Emergency even though the constitution doesn’t call it by any of that name.
President’s rule can be proclaimed under two grounds.
- If the President is satisfied that a situation has arisen where the State Government can’t be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. He can act either on the basis of the report of the governor or without it (although it is ultimately the Central Government who is the real decision maker)
- He can also proclaim PR, if a state fails to comply with any instruction or direction from the Union Government.
There are some procedural measures so that such a proclamation can continue. It should be approved by Parliament within 2 months, and continues for 6 months, if approved. In that manner it can be extended for 3 years maximum. However, to extend beyond one year, special conditions have to be met.
- a proclamation of National emergency should be in operation
- Election commission should hold that election can’t be held in the State.
These conditions are there so that the Union government doesn’t encroach upon the federal character of our polity. Refer the following link for some more details.