President’s Rule in Puducherry notified

Context

The Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Puducherry is placed under suspended animation because the government failed to prove its majority on the floor of the house.

Reason

• President is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the administration of the Union territory of Puducherry cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963.

Effect of the order

• The UT of Puducherry will be directly governed by the President through the Administrator (Lt. Governor) and the council of ministers stand dissolved.
• According to the Allocation of Business Rules, 1961, certain subjects pertaining to Union Territories, namely Legislative matters, Finance and Budget and Services, have been allocated to the Home Ministry.
• President can authorize Parliament to sanction any pending expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of UT of Puducherry (which was earlier a function of Legislative Assembly of Puducherry)
• Contingency Fund of UT of Puducherry will be credited from Consolidated Fund of UT by the approval of Parliament.

Difference between imposing President’s rule in State and UT.

President’s rule in State is imposed based on powers derived from Article 356 of the constitution but in case of UT it is Section 51 of Government of Union Territories Act, 1963

Other emergency provisions in Constitution

• National Emergency due to war, external aggression or armed rebellion (Article 352).
• Financial Emergency due to a threat to the financial stability or credit of India (Article 360).

Comparison of 3 types of Emergencies