Suspended animation
Topic: Emergency Provisions and President's Rule · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Suspended animation describes a state assembly under President's rule that is suspended but not dissolved. It does not meet, but it continues to exist. In the S.R. Bommai case (1994), the Supreme Court held that the assembly should normally stay in suspended animation until Parliament approves the proclamation. This means that if a court strikes the proclamation down, the old government can be restored.
Example
When President's rule was imposed in Manipur on 13 February 2025, after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned, the assembly was kept in suspended animation. It ended on 4 February 2026, when Y. Khemchand Singh became Chief Minister.
Don't confuse with
- Dissolution of the assembly: the assembly ends and fresh elections are needed. A suspended assembly can come back to life.