NEW DELHI, July 5 -- Emergency, whether declared or undeclared, is highly dangerous for democracy because the fundamental rights guaranteed to the citizens under article 19 of Indian constitution are automatically suspended as soon as a National Emergency is declared. The government gets the freedom to do whatever it wants without any restraint from the judiciary and the legislature, and it can become dictatorial and repressive.
Imposition of National Emergency in 1975 by the late Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi is considered by many as a misuse of emergency provisions given under article 352 (1) of Indian constitution. This article provides for proclamation of Emergency on the grounds of war, external aggression and armed rebellion. Whi...