The crisis of democratic order Notes in English Class 12 Political Science Chapter-6 Book-POLITICS IN INDIA SINCE INDEPENDENCE
0Team Eklavyaअप्रैल 25, 2025
Chapter - 6
Crisis of the democratic system
Background of the emergency
1. Financial problem
In the 1971 elections, Congress gave the slogan of 'Garibi Hatao' but poverty was not eradicated.
Bangladesh crisis had a bad impact on Indian economy. 80 lakh refugees came to India.
There was a war with Pakistan. The American government did not help India in the war.
Oil prices rose, leading to inflation rising to 23% in 1973 and 30% in 1974 .
Unemployment started increasing on a large scale.
The salaries of government employees were stopped and the government employees went on strike.
The monsoon failed , agricultural production declined.
Public protest began and during this period the activities of those groups who did not believe in the parliamentary system started increasing.
These groups who took up arms to overthrow the capitalist economy were called Marxist/Leninist/Maoist and Naxalite.
This group was more active in West Bengal.
2. Movements in Gujarat and Bihar
1. Student movement in Gujarat
There were Congress governments in both Gujarat and Bihar.
In January 1974 , students of Gujarat launched a movement against the rising prices of food grains , edible oil and other commodities and corruption.
Major political parties joined the movement and President's rule was imposed in Gujarat.
Opposition parties demanded re-election. Morarji Desai said if elections were not held he would go on a hunger strike.
Under pressure , elections were held in 1975 , Congress lost.
2. Student movement of Bihar
In March 1974, students started a movement in Bihar. Rising prices, unemployment, food crisis and corruption were the main reasons.
The students sent an invitation to Jayaprakash Narayan. During this period, Jayaprakash Narayan had become a social worker and had left active politics.
JP accepted the invitation but he put a condition that there would be no violence in the movement and the movement would not be limited to Bihar only.
People from every walk of life joined the movement and it is known as “Total Revolution” .
3. Conflict between the government and the judiciary
1. Three major issues of dispute
First issue - Whether Parliament can curtail the Fundamental Rights.
Second issue - Whether Parliament can amend the Constitution to curtail the right to property.
Third issue - The issue of appointment of Chief Justice ( 1973)
2. Government and judges
A.N. Ray was made the Chief Justice by ignoring three senior judges.
Judge Jagmohan Lal Sinha of the Allahabad High Court delivered a verdict on 12 June 1975. The verdict was that Indira Gandhi's election to the Lok Sabha was declared invalid.
The decision was taken on an election petition filed by socialist leader Raj Narain alleging that Indira Gandhi had used the services of government employees in her election campaign.
This decision meant that Indira was no longer an MP and if she was not re-elected within six months, she would no longer be able to remain Prime Minister.
On 24 June 1975 , the Supreme Court partially stayed the High Court's decision and decided that until the appeal was heard, Indira would continue to be an MP but would not be able to participate in the proceedings of Parliament.
Declaration of emergency
1. Crisis and the government
Jayaprakash Narayan and other opposition parties put pressure for Indira Gandhi's resignation.
All the parties together organised a huge demonstration at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on 25 June 1975. Such a huge demonstration had never taken place in Delhi till date.
Jayaprakash Narayan demanded resignation from Indira Gandhi.
He also called upon the police and army not to listen to the government.
Government employees were also asked to come against the government, due to which there was a fear of government work coming to a halt.
In view of these incidents, the government declared emergency. After the declaration of emergency all the powers went into the hands of the central government.
On the night of 25 June 1975 , Prime Minister and President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed announced the imposition of Emergency under Article 352 .
After midnight, electricity to the newspaper office was cut off.
In the morning the cabinet was informed that an emergency had been imposed.
The opposition leaders were arrested.
2. Consequences of the emergency
The protests stopped abruptly.
Opposition leaders were put in jail.
The strike was put on hold.
Freedom of the press was curbed.
Preventive detention was used extensively.
RSS and Jamaat-e-Islami organisations were banned.
Fundamental rights became ineffective.
3. Opposition to the Emergency
Newspapers like the Indian Express and The Stateman opposed press censorship.
Magazines like Seminar and Mainstream were closed.
Writers Shivaram Karanth and Phanishwar Nath Renu returned their titles in protest against the suppression of democracy.
4. Disputes during the Emergency
A provision was made in the Constitution Amendment due to the decision of the Allahabad High Court that the posts of Prime Minister, President, Vice President cannot be challenged in the court.
The 42nd Amendment of the Constitution took place during the Emergency.
Through this amendment, many parts of the Constitution were changed.
This is a controversial amendment.
During this time, the term of the legislature was increased from 5 to 6 years.
5. What went wrong during the Emergency ?
Power was misused and atrocities were committed against the people.
676 leaders were arrested.
Slums were demolished in Delhi and forced sterilization was carried out.
1,11000 people were arrested.
Electricity supply to newspaper offices was cut off.
Sanjay Gandhi interfered in government work.
Press censorship was imposed.
Preventive detention was used.
People were not even allowed to approach the court.
6. Lessons of the Emergency
It is difficult to bid farewell to democracy from India.
Emergency cannot now be imposed citing internal disturbance; it can be imposed only in the case of armed rebellion.
The Council of Ministers will give its advice in writing to the President regarding the declaration of emergency.
Citizens have now become more conscious of their rights; many organizations were formed after the Emergency.
Lok Sabha Elections - 1977
It was decided to hold Lok Sabha elections in January 1977 .
All the leaders were released from jail and elections were held in March 1977 .
The opposition got very little time to prepare .
Before the elections the opposition parties joined together and formed the Janata Party .
The new party handed over the leadership to Jayaprakash Narayan .
Some of the Congress leaders who were against the Emergency joined the Janata Party .
Jagjivan Ram formed a new party , Congress for Democracy but later he too joined the Janata Party .
During its election campaign, the party presented before the public the excesses that had taken place during the Emergency .
The public did not vote for Congress , the Janata Party won .
1977 election results
This happened for the first time after independence that Congress lost the elections .
1. Lok Sabha- 154 seats
2. Vote - 35%
3. Janata Party with alliance partner 330 seats
4. Janata Party alone got 295 seats
Congress was in a bad shape in North India. Congress did not get even a single seat in Bihar , Uttar Pradesh , Delhi , Haryana , Punjab .
Congress got only 1 seat in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh .
Indira Gandhi lost the election from Rae Bareli, Sanjay Gandhi lost the election from Amethi .
Congress won many seats in Maharashtra , Gujarat and Orissa while the middle class of North India started moving away from Congress .
The violence of the Emergency was reflected in the 1977 election results .
Janata Party formed the government , for the first time a non-Congress government came to power at the Centre .
Shah Inquiry Commission
The Janata Party government constituted the Shah Inquiry Commission in ( May – 1977) .
J.C. Shah - Former Supreme Court Judge .
The excesses , misconduct and misuse of power during the emergency of 25 June 1975 .
The Commission examined various evidences .
Statements of thousands of witnesses were recorded .
An attempt was made to take a statement from Indira Gandhi but Indira did not give any statement .
First non-Congress government
The Janata Party won the 1977 elections but there was no coordination in it .
There was a competition for the post of Prime Minister. Morarji Desai , Charan Singh and Jagjivan Ram all three wanted to become Prime Minister .
There was a dispute between them but ultimately Morarji Desai was made the Prime Minister .
Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister , but the infighting continued within the party .
Critics of the party said that Janata Party lacks any direction , leadership or programme .
The Janata Party disintegrated after some time .
Morarji Desai's government fell in just 18 months .
The second government was formed with the support of Congress and Charan Singh was made the Prime Minister but Congress later withdrew its support and Charan Singh's government fell in just 4 months .
1980 midterm elections
Lok Sabha elections were held in January 1980 .
Janata Party lost badly in this election .
Congress won 353 seats .
If the government is unstable and there is conflict within it , then the voters punish such a government heavily .
After 1977 , the issue of welfare of backward classes started dominating Indian politics .
There was an uproar in Bihar over OBC reservation .
After this the Janata Party government appointed the Mandal Commission .
Mandal Commission
1. President -Bindeshwari Prasad Mandal.
2. Work -The Commission was given work related to backward castes.
