Revisiting SR Bommai Case & Secularism

 

S. R. Bommai is an Indian politician and former Chief Minister of Karnataka. He was born on March 18,

1934, in Bommai village, Karnataka, India. He was a member of the Janata Dal political party, and

served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1989 to 1990.

Bommai is best known for his role in the Bommai case, which was a landmark decision by the

Supreme Court of India. The case centered around the dissolution of the Karnataka Legislative

Assembly by the President of India in 1989, and was widely seen as a test of the balance of power

between the Indian federal government and the state governments.

In its decision, the Supreme Court established the principle of federalism in the Indian Constitution,

and confirmed that the President of India could not dissolve a state government without the

recommendation of the state's governor. The decision was widely seen as a victory for the principle

of federalism, and has had a lasting impact on Indian politics and governance.

S. R. Bommai is widely regarded as a leader of integrity and conviction, and is remembered for his

contribution to the development of Indian democracy. He continues to be an active voice in Indian

politics and is seen as an important figure in the history of Karnataka and India.

The S. R. Bommai case, which was decided by the Supreme Court of India in 1994, is considered to

be a landmark decision in the history of Indian democracy. The case revolved around the dissolution

of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly by the President of India in 1989, and challenged the balance

of power between the Indian federal government and the state governments.

The Supreme Court's decision in the Bommai case established the principle of federalism in the

Indian Constitution, and confirmed that the President of India could not dissolve a state government

without the recommendation of the state's governor. The decision was widely seen as a victory for

the principle of federalism and has had a lasting impact on Indian politics and governance.

The Bommai case also had implications for the concept of secularism in India. The Indian Constitution

guarantees the right to equality and freedom of religion, and the Bommai case confirmed that the

Indian state must remain neutral with regard to religion and must not promote any particular religion.

This is an important aspect of secularism in India and has helped to maintain the country's secular

character.

In recent years, there have been calls to revisit the Bommai case and to reassess its implications

for the Indian Constitution and secularism. As India continues to face religious tensions and

polarization, it is important to uphold the principles established by the Bommai case and to ensure

that the Indian state remains neutral with regard to religion. The Bommai case continues to be an

important precedent for the interpretation of the Indian Constitution and the preservation of secularism

in India.

According to Article 356 of the Constitution, Senior Bommai's government was overthrown and the

President's control was enforced. He petitioned the Supreme Court after losing an appeal to the

Karnataka High Court against his dismissal. It took the court almost five years to issue a decision,

which essentially declared that the Governor's authority to impose the President's rule in a state is not

unchallengeable and subject to challenge. It declared that a government's majority test must be

decided on the Assembly floor, implicitly not in Raj Bhavan or anywhere else.

Despite the elder Bommai's victory in court, current Central Governments have utilised other

strategies to overthrow opposition-run state governments, such as chipping away at the lawmakers

of the ruling party, as was attempted.

https://lokmarg.com/revisiting-sr-bommai-case-secularism/