The Supreme Court has affirmed the constitutional authority of the president to declare a state of emergency in any part of the country where public order, safety or effective governance is under serious threat.
In its ruling, the apex court held that the power may be exercised to forestall a breakdown of law and order or to prevent a situation from degenerating into chaos or anarchy. It stressed that such authority is anchored in the Constitution and is intended to protect national stability and preserve democratic governance in times of grave crisis.
The court, however, underscored that emergency powers are not to be deployed arbitrarily, noting that they are permissible only under exceptional circumstances where existing institutions and normal governance mechanisms have proved incapable of containing an escalating situation.
According to the justices, the declaration of a state of emergency is a last-resort measure designed to restore order and ensure the continuity of constitutional government, not to undermine democratic principles.
The ruling reinforces the president’s constitutional discretion in responding to extraordinary threats, while also placing emphasis on restraint and adherence to the rule of law in the exercise of such powers.
Supreme Court upholds president’s power to declare emergency rule
