On the night of June 25, 1975, India—then the world’s largest functioning democracy—entered an unprecedented period of constitutional crisis. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government declared a national Emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution, citing internal disturbances. For the next 21 months, civil liberties were suspended, political opposition was crushed, press freedoms were curbed, and the country operated under what many described as authoritarian rule.
The declaration came days after the Allahabad High Court found Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractices and declared her 1971 Lok Sabha election void. Instead of stepping down or appealing through the usual legal channels, the government chose to invoke Emergency provisions. Political vulnerability, rather than national instability, was widely seen as the driving force behind the move.
Institutions meant to provide democratic checks and balances quickly began to weaken. Parliament ceased to function independently. Most opposition leaders were detained, and dissenting voices were systematically stifled. The judiciary too faced pressure. In the ADM Jabalpur case, popularly known as the Habeas Corpus case, the Supreme Court ruled that even the right to life could be suspended during the Emergency. Justice H.R. Khanna, the lone dissenter in the 4–1 verdict, was later superseded for the position of Chief Justice.
Press freedom was one of the earliest casualties. Newspapers were asked to submit content to government censors before publication. Some publications chose defiance, most notably The Indian Express, which left its editorial page blank in protest. Others complied, often under duress, fearing reprisals ranging from financial pressures to arrests.
Tens of thousands of citizens—including politicians, student leaders, trade unionists, journalists, and activists—were arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), which allowed for preventive detention without trial. These arrests were often indiscriminate, and stories of custodial abuse and torture began to emerge from across the country. Allegations included beatings, solitary confinement, electric shocks, and other forms of coercion meant to suppress resistance.
One of the most controversial aspects of the period was the rising influence of Sanjay Gandhi, the Prime Minister’s younger son, who held no elected position but became a powerful voice in government affairs. He spearheaded aggressive population control campaigns, resulting in widespread reports of forced sterilizations, particularly targeting economically weaker sections. In Delhi, mass evictions were carried out as part of urban “beautification” drives, leading to incidents like the Turkman Gate clash, where security forces opened fire on protesting residents.
During this time, Parliament passed the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution, widely regarded as one of the most far-reaching constitutional changes in independent India’s history. The amendment curtailed the powers of the judiciary, strengthened the executive, and sought to make constitutional amendments beyond judicial review. The manner of its passage—introduced and approved over a weekend—drew sharp criticism for bypassing democratic norms and due legislative process.
Key opposition leaders including Jayaprakash Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, George Fernandes, and Morarji Desai were jailed, many without formal charges. Yet, despite the state apparatus working to silence opposition, underground resistance networks, international criticism, and public discontent continued to grow.
In January 1977, elections were unexpectedly announced. In March that year, the results delivered a stunning verdict. Indira Gandhi lost her own seat, and the Congress party was defeated by a united opposition, leading to the formation of the Janata Party government. The vote was seen as a strong reaffirmation of democratic values by the Indian electorate.
The Emergency of 1975–77 remains one of the most controversial and consequential episodes in India’s post-independence history. It continues to be cited as a cautionary tale about the fragility of democratic institutions and the importance of civil liberties. As India marks 50 years since that night, the events of those 21 months still serve as a reminder that democracy requires constant vigilance and that constitutional safeguards are only as effective as the people’s commitment to uphold them.
