NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political Science Politics in India since Independence Chapter 6: The Crisis of Democratic Order

Chapter at a glance

Exercises

Answer

1. Correct; (b) Incorrect; (c) Incorrect; (d) Correct; (e) Correct.

Answer

(e) The findings of the Shah Commission Report – it came after the Emergency (1977–78) to inquire into its excesses; all others were part of the background that led to the Emergency.

5. The findings of the Shah Commission Report.

Answer

(a)–ii, (b)–i, (c)–iii, (d)–iv.

Answer

1. Lack of unity in the Janata Party – it was a coalition of parties with different ideologies (Congress (O), Jana Sangh, BLD, Socialists) brought together only by opposition to the Emergency.
2. Leadership rivalry among Morarji Desai, Charan Singh and Jagjivan Ram.
3. Dual membership controversy – objections to former Jana Sangh members’ links with the RSS.
4. No clear direction or common programme; the government could not bring fundamental change in policies.
5. Defections – Morarji Desai’s government lost its majority within 18 months (1979); Charan Singh’s government lasted only four months, as the Congress withdrew support.
6. With no stable alternative, the Lok Sabha was dissolved and mid-term elections were held in January 1980, in which the Congress returned with a large majority.

The Janata Party lacked unity and a common programme, its leaders (Desai, Charan Singh, Jagjivan Ram) fought for power, the dual-membership issue split it, Desai’s and then Charan Singh’s governments fell, and so mid-term elections were held in 1980.

Answer

Why appointed: In May 1977 the Janata government appointed a commission headed by Justice J. C. Shah (retired Chief Justice of India) to inquire into the allegations of abuse of authority, excesses and malpractices committed during the Emergency (1975–77).

Findings

1. Many decisions were taken without proper procedure and on the basis of whims; the advice to declare Emergency was given without the Cabinet’s consent.
2. Large-scale arrests of political opponents and others under preventive detention laws (MISA) – nearly one lakh people.
3. Press censorship and pressure on the media; power supply to newspaper offices cut.
4. Excesses like forced sterilisation and demolition of slums (e.g. Turkman Gate, Delhi) under Sanjay Gandhi’s influence, though he held no official post.
5. Misuse of the bureaucracy and police; violation of rights of citizens.

It was appointed to investigate abuse of authority and excesses during the Emergency; it found arbitrary decisions without due procedure, mass arrests under preventive detention, press censorship, forced sterilisation and slum demolitions, and misuse of the police and bureaucracy.

Answer

The government argued that:

1. There was a threat of internal disturbance – opposition movements (Gujarat, Bihar, JP’s call for Total Revolution) were trying to paralyse the government through agitations and obstructing democratic processes.
2. JP had called upon the army, police and government employees not to obey “illegal and immoral orders”, which the government saw as incitement to revolt.
3. Agitations were creating disorder and violence, hampering economic development and preventing the government from implementing its pro-poor programme.
4. Conspiracies by vested interests (and “foreign hands”) to destabilise the elected government.

Hence, under Article 352, the government claimed that extraordinary powers were needed to restore order and discipline.

It claimed a threat of internal disturbance: opposition agitations and JP’s call to the army, police and officials to disobey orders were said to cause disorder, obstruct development and threaten an elected government through conspiracy.

Answer

1. Popular resentment against the Emergency – arrests, censorship, suppression of civil liberties.
2. Excesses like forced sterilisation and slum demolitions, especially in North India.
3. Opposition unity – major opposition parties merged to form the Janata Party; avoided splitting of votes.
4. Leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan, who gave moral authority to the opposition.
5. Defection of senior Congress leaders (Jagjivan Ram formed Congress for Democracy and joined the Janata).
6. Campaign framed as a referendum on the Emergency – “democracy vs dictatorship”.
7. Anger among North Indian voters, middle classes, dalits and Muslims; Congress was wiped out in North India.

Public anger against the Emergency’s suppression of liberties and excesses (sterilisation, demolitions), the unity of the opposition in the Janata Party under JP’s leadership, the defection of leaders like Jagjivan Ram, and the election becoming a referendum on democracy.

Answer

Civil liberties: fundamental rights were curtailed – the right to move courts for their enforcement (including Article 21) was suspended; nearly one lakh people were arrested under preventive detention (MISA, DIR) without trial; protests, strikes and agitations were banned; organisations like the RSS and Jamaat-e-Islami were banned.

Executive–Judiciary relationship: the government sought a “committed judiciary”; judges were superseded (A. N. Ray made Chief Justice in 1973); in the ADM Jabalpur (habeas corpus) case (1976), the Supreme Court held that citizens could not challenge detention during Emergency – a low point for judicial independence. The 42nd Amendment (1976) curtailed judicial review. The judiciary was weakened and subordinated to the executive.

Mass media: press censorship – newspapers needed prior approval; some ran blank editorials in protest; magazines like Seminar and Mainstream closed; the government used radio and Doordarshan for propaganda. Electricity to newspaper offices in Delhi was cut on 26 June 1975.

Police and bureaucracy: they became instruments of the ruling party, carrying out arrests, demolitions and forced sterilisations; officials who resisted were punished; accountability and neutrality suffered; many committed excesses without fear.

Civil liberties were suspended, with mass preventive detentions and bans; the judiciary was subordinated (ADM Jabalpur case, 42nd Amendment); the press was censored; and the police and bureaucracy became partisan tools used for arrests, demolitions and sterilisation, losing neutrality and accountability.

Answer

1. End of Congress dominance – the 1977 defeat ended the Congress monopoly at the Centre; the first non-Congress government (Janata Party) was formed.
2. Opposition unity – parties with different ideologies (Congress (O), Jana Sangh, BLD, Socialists) merged into the Janata Party; this showed that a united opposition could defeat the Congress.
3. Bipolar competition – the 1977 election looked like a two-party contest (Congress vs Janata).
4. Splits and new parties – the Congress split again (Congress (I) formed in 1978); the Janata Party broke up, leading to the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (1980) from the former Jana Sangh, and the Lok Dal.
5. Rise of OBC and regional politics – leaders like Charan Singh and other backward-class leaders gained prominence; the Mandal Commission was set up (1978).
6. Democratic consciousness – parties and voters became more aware of civil liberties; the Emergency became a reference point in politics.

The Emergency ended Congress dominance, united the opposition into the Janata Party creating near two-party competition in 1977, led to splits (Congress (I), break-up of Janata, formation of BJP and Lok Dal), boosted OBC and regional politics, and raised democratic awareness.

Answer

(a) In 1977 the major opposition parties – Congress (O), Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Bharatiya Lok Dal and the Socialist Party – merged to form the Janata Party. The election became a direct contest between two main blocs – the Congress and the Janata Party (with their allies), making the party system look like a two-party system.

(b) Although many parties existed, almost all votes and seats were concentrated between the two main contenders; most other parties were allied with one of them (e.g. CPI with Congress, CPI(M) and Akali Dal with Janata). The contest in most constituencies was between the Congress and the Janata candidate. Hence it was close to a two-party system in practice.

(c)

• Congress: after its defeat, differences arose between Indira Gandhi and other leaders over responsibility for the defeat and the Emergency; in 1978 Indira Gandhi formed Congress (I), and others (led by Brahmananda Reddy, later Devaraj Urs) formed another group.
• Janata Party: it was a coalition of different ideologies brought together only by opposition to the Emergency; leadership rivalry (Morarji Desai, Charan Singh, Jagjivan Ram), the dual-membership controversy (RSS links of ex-Jana Sangh members) and the lack of a common programme caused splits; Charan Singh formed his own government; the former Jana Sangh formed the BJP in 1980.

1. The merger of major opposition parties into the Janata Party made 1977 a Congress-vs-Janata contest; (b) votes and seats were concentrated between these two blocs, with other parties allied to them; (c) Congress split over the defeat and leadership (Congress (I), 1978), and the Janata split due to ideological differences, leadership rivalry and the dual-membership issue.

Topic checklist

• ☒ Background and declaration of Emergency (Q 1–3, 6)
• ☒ Effects of Emergency (Q 8)
• ☒ 1977 elections and Janata government (Q 4, 5, 7)
• ☒ Impact on party system (Q 9, 10)

Total questions answered: 10 of 10