THE Constitution of India provides a federal government system with a division of powers between the centre and states. In this constitutional scheme, the Supreme Court is the guardian of the Constitution that adjudicates disputes between the centre and states. Comparatively, the centre has more powers to override the states in some situations as the latter are not fully autonomous. The centre can change the names and boundaries of states and also dismiss state governments if they fail to carry on the administration by the constitutional provisions under Article 356.
The president, who is the constitutional head of the Union government, appoints the governor on the prime minister’s advice. The governor plays a significant role as a link between the centre and states. Although states have limited autonomy under the constitutional scheme, the centre is not their master. Within their constitutional boundaries, states are empowered to exercise their powers and functions. State governments secure popular support and constitutional legitimacy and the centre needs to be in harmonious mode with the states.
It is pertinent to mention that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the fore some of the dominating features of our federal system.
Surprisingly, during the first wave of the pandemic, the Union government centralised all powers in its hands and treated states like municipalities or subordinate bodies despite health being a state subject. The centre made several important decisions relating to the lockdown/unlocking under the Disaster Management Act and the Epidemic Control Act, and states had no option but to act as per its directions.
Denne historien er fra June 28, 2021-utgaven av India Legal.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 28, 2021-utgaven av India Legal.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PIL, Difficult To Swallow?
In a recent ruling, the Bombay High Court lamented the increasing number of frivolous public interest litigations being filed in courts and echoed the sentiments of the Supreme Court that such litigations are the bane of the judicial system. Is there any way to restrict their misuse?
Till Infertility Do Us Part...
The Calcutta High Court slammed a husband for initiating divorce proceedings due to his wife's infertility and asked him to be a pillar of support for her. Courts have often taken an empathetic view in such matters
IS THAT LEGAL?
Ignorance of law is no excuse. Here are answers to frequently asked queries regarding matters that affect us on a day-to-day basis
The Big Lie
In America, The Big Lie is an idiom used by Donald Trump's opponents and the media to describe his constant gripe about election fraud. Now, it seems more suited to another Republican, Congressman George Santos (right), who has been facing growing calls to resign after he admitted fabricating parts of his resume and biography since his election in New York last year.
Flying into the Sunset
Over 50 years since the first and original jumbo jet, the Boeing 747, took to the skies and revolutionized air travel, the last of the legendary aircraft (right) was delivered to a freight charter company, bringing down the curtain on one of aviation's most successful products.
Star Crossed
Actor and producer Alec Baldwin is a Hollywood legend, having starred in a range of movies, award winning TV sitcoms, and theatre. He was most recently seen in Mission Impossible Fallout, which is an apt description of his current situation.
Walkouts in the UK
An estimated half a million workers have gone on strike, shutting down thousands of schools, public transport and border disruption. It is the biggest day of industrial action for more than a decade.
Myanmar's Misery
Two years after the military coup ousted the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, the brutal crackdown by the junta on so-called \"insurgents\" and civilian protesters has reached a new level with the use of air strikes, a new and deadly tactic in the ongoing civil war.
AMERICA'S ANGST
From messy, divisive politics to a series of mass shootings, and now black officers brutally beating another black man to death as seen in bodycam videos, America's domestic convulsions are cause for serious introspection
JUSTICE LEAGUE
There are few judicial appointment procedures in the world that are completely bereft of the overarching presence of either the executive or the legislature, or both. In the end, the judge is left with all the powers vested in him/her by the constitution to uphold the rule of law, within an atmosphere of external influences
