Article 355 of the Indian Constitution:
The Supreme Court recently appeared surprised over a petition seeking the invocation of Article 355 in West Bengal, citing violence in Murshidabad district during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act.
- It is a part of emergency provisions contained in Part XVIII of the Constitution of India, from Article 352 to 360.
- It empowers the Centre to take necessary steps to protect a state from any kind of threat, be it internal or external.
- It allows the Centre to take charge of a state’s law and order enforcement without dismissing the government, and is considered a step below the President’s rule, which gives full control to the President.
- The provision is designed to ensure that the government can act swiftly and decisively in the event of any disturbance or threat to the peace and security of the country.
- The exact definition of Article 355 in the Constitution of India is, “It shall be the duty of the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.”
