Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas is being observed today. It serves as a reminder of what happened when the Constitution of India was trampled over on 25th June 1975. It is also a day to pay homage to each and every person who suffered due to the excesses of the Emergency.

 

On this day in 1975, then-President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed proclaimed a National Emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution, citing threats arising from internal disturbances.

 

The Emergency was declared amid growing political unrest and judicial developments that had undermined the legitimacy of the government led by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. As a result, the executive assumed sweeping powers, and greater central control was exercised over state authority. Following the proclamation, several constitutional safeguards were suspended.

 

Under Article 358, the rights guaranteed by Article 19, including freedom of speech and expression, assembly, and movement-were curtailed. Citizens were denied the right to seek judicial remedies for violations of these rights. Pre-censorship was imposed on newspapers, and even the Press Council of India, the statutory body responsible for safeguarding press freedom, was abolished.

 

Constitutional Amendments during that period barred the courts from questioning the President’s decision to declare Emergency and excluded the election of the Prime Minister and Speaker of the Lok Sabha from judicial scrutiny. The Ministry of Culture is organising the closing ceremony of year-long programs in New Delhi today, marking the completion of 50 years since the imposition of the emergency. On this occasion, along with the ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ and ‘Long Live Democracy’ exhibition, a screening of the short film ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ will also be held. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will preside over the program.