Article 355: Only an advice
*Article 355: Only an advice to the Haryana government to take 'appropriate action'- in view of the threat by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal*
*(Centre wields Art 355 against Hooda)*
*In the last decade, communication under Article 355 has been sent to at least four state governments on separate occasions but none of the state government, including Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots, was dismissed.
The BJP, then in power at the Centre, refused to evoke Article 356.*
*Article 355 of the Constitution imposes a duty on the Union to protect the states from external aggression and internal disturbance, as well as the duty to ensure that the governments of the states are carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.*
*A communication under Article 355 is like an advice from the Centre and it would be incorrect to see it as a precursor to Article 356 that empowers the Centre to dismiss a state govt, said sources.*
*When the Centre sends an advisory under Article 355, it may not even mention the Article. The advice is often worded as "take appropriate action."*
*Courtesy: Tribune News Service*
*In the last decade, communication under Article 355 has been sent to at least four state governments on separate occasions but none of the state government, including Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots, was dismissed. The BJP, then in power at theCentre, refused to evoke Article 356.*
*Similar "advice" was sent to Orissa, Karnataka and Kerala, all of which witnessed communal violence. Maharashtra was warned in 2008, but the then Home Minister Shivraj Patil did not confirm if the communication was under Article 355.*
*Article 355 says: "..It is the duty of the Union to protect states against external aggression and internal disturbance. The Union has to ensure the government of every state is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution".*
*Ready for any sacrifice: Haryana Finance Minister HS Chattha*
*Courtesy: Tribune News Service*
*Note: Threat by: "Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal warned the Haryana Government of severe consequences. However, in the same breath, Badal appealed to people to maintain communal harmony at all cost.*
* Tribune News Service"*
*The extract by*
*Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch*