Article 356: President’s Rule (State Emergency) ILW BASICS OF LAW Thu, Nov 14, 2019, at ,11:41 AM On 12/11/2019 President Ram Nath Kovind imposed President’s Rule in Maharashtra as the top three parties failed to form the government. Shiv Sena has already filed a plea against the step in Supreme Court. What is President’s Rule? President's rule deals with 'failure of constitutional machinery in the state'. Under Article 356 the president has the power to suspend a state’s government and impose the president’s rule if the president is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Article 356, is one of the articles among the Emergency provisions of the Indian Constitution. It is an Article in part XVIII (Articles 352-360). What happens when the President’s Rule is applied? When the President’s Rule is applied: Central government takes direct control of the state, Governor becomes its constitutional head, There would be no Council of Ministers, No major government decisions will be made, No projects will be sanctioned, and no major policy decisions including subsidies and others will be made, Vidhan Sabha is either dissolved or prorogued. For how long the President’s Rule will be imposed? The President’s Rule is imposed by the order of the President and can also be revoked by the order of President. The President’s Rule ceases to operate on the expiration of a period of six months from the date of the issue of the proclamation. Unless revoked, the President’s Rule can be extended by six months each, several times, but in no case beyond three years. Thereafter, the President’s Rule must come to an end, and the normal constitutional machinery must be restored in the State. President Rule also ceases to affect if after two months of its making if it is not presented for approval before both Houses of the Parliament [Article 356(3)].