Supreme Court affirms president has power to declare emergency rule, remove elected officials

The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that the President is constitutionally empowered to declare a state of emergency in any state of the federation where prevailing circumstances pose a serious threat to public safety, security or effective governance.

In its ruling, the apex court stated that this authority may be exercised in situations where there is a real and imminent danger of a breakdown of law and order, or where conditions are rapidly worsening and risk descending into chaos or anarchy. The court explained that the Constitution envisages such presidential intervention as a protective measure aimed at preventing the collapse of public order and preserving the integrity of the state.

The Supreme Court emphasized that the power to declare a state of emergency is designed to safeguard national stability and ensure the uninterrupted functioning of democratic institutions during periods of grave crisis. According to the court, the provision exists to enable decisive action when ordinary administrative and security measures are no longer sufficient to contain escalating threats.

The justices further noted that emergency powers are not meant to be routine tools of governance but are reserved strictly for exceptional circumstances. Such measures, the court said, are justified only when normal governance mechanisms have failed or are incapable of effectively responding to serious challenges that endanger lives, property or constitutional order.

The court also stressed that the exercise of emergency powers must remain within constitutional limits and be guided by necessity, proportionality and the overriding interest of public safety. It added that the ultimate objective of a state of emergency is to restore stability and create conditions for a return to normal democratic governance as quickly as possible.