S.R. Bommai v. Union of India, also known as the "Bommai Case," is a landmark case in the history of the Indian judiciary. Decided by a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India in 1994, the case dealt with the question of the powers of the Indian President and the Governor in dismissing State Governments and the imposition of President's rule in the states. The case was significant because it defined the powers of the President and the Governor in dismissing State Governments and imposed guidelines for the imposition of President's rule.
The case originated in 1989, when the then Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, dismissed the government of S.R. Bommai, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, on the grounds of alleged political instability and breakdown of constitutional machinery. Bommai challenged his dismissal in the Supreme Court, arguing that it was arbitrary and violative of his fundamental rights.
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, held that the dismissal of a State Government and the imposition of President's rule are subject to judicial review, and that the President and the Governor's powers in this regard must be exercised in a fair and reasonable manner. The Court also established that the President and the Governor must give a fair opportunity to the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers to prove their majority in the State Legislative Assembly before taking any action against them.
The S.R. Bommai case is considered a landmark case in the history of the Indian judiciary, as it defined the powers of the Indian President and the Governor in dismissing State Governments and imposed guidelines for the imposition of President's rule. The case also had a significant impact on the Indian political system, as it established the principle of judicial review of the dismissal of State Governments and imposed restrictions on the arbitrary dismissal of State Governments.
In conclusion, S.R. Bommai v. Union of India is a landmark case that defined the powers of the Indian President and the Governor in dismissing State Governments and imposed guidelines for the imposition of President's rule. The case established the principle of judicial review of the dismissal of State Governments and imposed restrictions on the arbitrary dismissal of State Governments. This case has become an important landmark in the Indian Constitutional history and has set a precedent for fair and just actions by the President and the Governor in dismissing state governments.