How Governor rule is different in J&K...

Governor’s rule was imposed on Jammu and Kashmir for the sixth time on Friday under Section 92 (1) of the Constitution of the state with the approval of the President of India.

While in other states across the country President’s rule is imposed under Article 356 of the Constitution in the event of failure of constitutional machinery, in case of Jammu and Kashmir, Governor’s rule for a period of six months is imposed only with the consent of the President and that too under the State’s Constitution.

The State Assembly is either kept in suspended animation or dissolved.

President’s rule may be imposed under Article 356 of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir if the constitutional machinery is not restored before the expiry of the six-month period. This is for the sixth time in the last almost four decades that the state has come under Governor’s rule, after the major parties failed to form government following a fractured mandate in Assembly elections held in November-December.

Governor’s rule was imposed on the state for the first time in March 1977, when the Congress withdrew support to National Conference (NC) government led by the late Sheikh Abdullah. After the Indira-Sheikh Accord in 1975, the NC had formed the government with the support of Congress. However, in March 1977, the Congress withdrew support and the assembly was dissolved. L K Jha took over as the governor for three months.

In July 1984, Sheikh Abdullah’s son-in-law, Ghulam Muhammad Shah, toppled the then chief minister, Farooq Abdullah, with the help of 26 Congress members and 12 NC ‘defectors.’ But, in March 1986, the Congress withdrew support to Shah government paving the way for another spell of governor’s rule.

For about six months, Jagmohan was the governor of the state and after completion of the stipulated time, president’s rule was imposed for one month on September 6, 1986 before Farooq-led NC again came to power following yet another accord, this time with the then prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi.