The murder of 10 people in the Birbhum district of West Bengal has not cooled down and now a TMC leader was shot dead in Nadia. The horrific incident happened late on Wednesday night.
The state government has constituted a special investigation team to probe into the matter. But now, questions are being raised about the law and order situation of the state. Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said that law and order have collapsed in Bengal.
BJP Demands President’s Rule
The Calcutta High Court has taken a suo moto cognizance in the Birbhum violence case. The court has sought a detailed report on the latest situation in the Birbhum incident on Thursday afternoon, but the violence that erupted after the murder of TMC leader in Birbhum is taking a political colour. The Opposition party, BJP, has demanded the imposition of the President’s rule in view of the increasing violence in the state.
Leader of Opposition Shubhendu Adhikari has slammed CM Mamata Banerjee, terming the incident a “brutal massacre”. The law and order situation in West Bengal is serious, he said.
He said that 26 murders had taken place in the last one week in different parts of the state. “The Center should intervene and implement President’s rule to take control of the situation in Bengal,” he said.
Can President’s Rule Be Imposed In Bengal?
If the Centre wants, by citing the law and order issue, President’s rule can be imposed in the state. This can be a good opportunity for BJP to corner the Mamata Banerjee government. There were reports of violence against BJP workers even after the results of the West Bengal assembly elections were declared on May 2 last year.
Meaning Of President’s Rule
President’s rule means the transfer of power to control a state to the President of India. But from the administrative point of view, the Centre gives executive power to the governor of the state for this. Under Articles 352, 356 and 365 of the Constitution, provisions related to the President’s rule have been given.
Factors To Impose President’s Rule
President’s rule can be imposed in any state under Article 356 of the Constitution. It empowers the President to impose President’s rule in a state. It means the rule of the Centre in a state.
When the Centre comes to terms that the state government is unable to comply with the constitutional provisions, the President allows the state government to be dismissed and impose its rule. If this happens, with the permission of the President, the Centre can take over the direct control of the state machinery.
According to Article 356 of the Constitution, the Centre has the power to dismiss the government of a state in failure of constitutional machinery and impose President’s rule in the state or in the case of a clear violation of the Constitution.
Duration Of President’s Rule
The imposition of the President’s Rule must be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within two months. After approval is given by both the Houses, President’s rule can go on for six months. If the President’s rule has to be extended even after one year, then the permission of the Election Commission has to be taken for this.