The Crisis of Democratic Order || Pol. Science Class 12th Chapter-6 (Book-2) Notes in English || NCERT CBSE

"The Crisis of Democratic Order"

Political Context (Post-1971): After Indira Gandhi's victory in the 1971 elections, Congress became a more centralized party, with a focus on her personal leadership. However, despite the "Garibi Hatao" slogan, the socio-economic conditions did not improve significantly.
Economic Stress: The 1971 Bangladesh crisis, high oil prices, and inflation (23% in 1973, 30% in 1974) worsened economic conditions. Unemployment rose, agricultural output declined due to failed monsoons, and there was widespread dissatisfaction with the government's economic management.
Political Polarization: Opposition parties organized widespread protests, making political competition intense. The government faced growing criticism over its economic failures and its increasing concentration of power, raising tensions with both political opponents and the judiciary.

Gujarat Movement (1974): Students in Gujarat protested against rising prices and corruption. Opposition parties joined, turning it into a major political issue. The movement led to the imposition of President’s Rule, and Congress lost the 1975 state elections.
Bihar Movement (1974): Student protests in Bihar, against similar issues of price hikes and corruption, were led by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP). This movement soon expanded beyond Bihar, evolving into a call for "total revolution" in the socio-economic and political spheres. JP's leadership galvanized non-Congress parties, intensifying the political crisis.

Judiciary-Executive Conflict: The government’s attempts to implement pro-poor policies conflicted with judicial rulings protecting constitutional rights. The Supreme Court's landmark decision in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), limiting Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution, further escalated tensions. This was followed by the controversial appointment of A.N. Ray as Chief Justice, bypassing senior judges who had ruled against the government.
High Court Judgment Against Indira Gandhi: In 1975, the Allahabad High Court found Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractice, disqualifying her as an MP. This ruling triggered demands for her resignation and intensified opposition protests.

Proclamation (June 25, 1975): Following the political unrest and the court ruling, Indira Gandhi declared a state of Emergency under Article 352, citing internal disturbances as the reason. The Emergency granted the government extraordinary powers, including suspension of fundamental rights and press censorship.
Government’s Response: Opposition leaders were arrested, and public protests were suppressed. The freedom of the press was curtailed, with newspapers requiring prior approval before publishing content. Censorship became a critical aspect of this period, stifling dissent.

Civil Liberties: Fundamental rights, including the right to move courts for habeas corpus, were suspended. Preventive detention laws were widely used to arrest political opponents without trial. Dissenters, including writers and journalists, were silenced through arrests or censorship.
Judiciary and Bureaucracy: The judiciary became subordinate to the executive. The Supreme Court controversially ruled in favor of the government's detention policies, eroding citizens’ rights during the Emergency.
Public Sentiment and Resistance: Despite heavy repression, some protests continued underground. Media outlets like The Indian Express left blank editorial spaces as acts of resistance. Yet, widespread resistance was relatively limited, and many institutions appeared to support the regime.

1977 Elections and the Janata Party: After 18 months of Emergency, Indira Gandhi lifted it in January 1977 and called for elections. Opposition parties united under the Janata Party, led by Jayaprakash Narayan, and made the election a referendum on Emergency rule. In a surprising result, the Janata Party won 330 seats, while Congress was routed in North India.
Electoral Outcome: The Congress suffered its first major defeat, winning only 154 seats, with a majority of its support confined to Southern states. Indira Gandhi and her son Sanjay Gandhi both lost their seats. The Janata Party's victory was seen as a rejection of authoritarianism.

Internal Conflicts: The Janata Party, formed from disparate opposition groups, was riddled with internal conflicts. There was intense competition for leadership between Morarji Desai, Charan Singh, and Jagjivan Ram. Desai became Prime Minister, but factionalism weakened the government.
Policy Challenges and Fall: The Janata Party failed to implement significant policy changes and lacked a cohesive program. The government collapsed in less than three years, with Charan Singh briefly becoming Prime Minister before Congress withdrew its support.

1980 Elections: Following the Janata Party's disintegration, fresh elections were held in 1980. Indira Gandhi’s Congress won a landslide victory, regaining 353 seats. The collapse of the Janata Party reinforced the electorate’s preference for political stability over fragmentation.
Changing Nature of Congress: The Congress party of the 1980s was different from the one before Emergency. It now identified with a socialist agenda and centered around Indira Gandhi’s personal leadership, shifting from the earlier inclusive, federal character.

Strength of Democracy: Despite the suspension of democratic processes, the quick restoration of normalcy after Emergency highlighted the resilience of Indian democracy. The public’s rejection of authoritarianism in the 1977 elections was a strong reaffirmation of democratic values.
Constitutional Reforms: The Emergency exposed weaknesses in the Constitution. In response, reforms were introduced, such as limiting the grounds for internal emergencies to ‘armed rebellion’ and requiring the Union Cabinet's written approval for declaring an Emergency.
Judicial Independence: The judiciary’s failure during the Emergency led to reforms that reinforced its role in protecting civil liberties in the future. Civil liberties organizations and movements grew stronger as a result of the Emergency experience.