Under  clause (4) of article 356 of the Constitution, no  Proclamation
issued  under  that  article  and  approved  by  both   the  Houses  of
Parliament  shall remain in force for more than three years.  However,
under  clause  (5)  of  the said article a  resolution   approving  the
continuance in force of a Proclamation issued under clause (1) of that
article  beyond a period of one year cannot be passed by either  House
of  Parliament unless the two conditions relating to a Proclamation of
Emergency being in operation in the whole or any part of the State and
the  certificate  by the Election Commission that the continuation  of
the  Proclamation  issued under clause (1) is necessary on account  of
difficulties  in holding general elections to the Legislative Assembly
of  the  State  as specified in that clause are met.  The  three   year
period  in  the  case of Proclamation issued on 11th  May,  1987   with
respect to the State of Punjab would be over on 10th May, 1990 and the
said   two  conditions  are  also   not   fulfilled.   The   prevailing
circumstances in the State do not hold out good prospects for free and
peaceful   elections   to  the   State   Legislative   Assembly.    The
representatives   of  various  political   parties  who   attended  the
All-Party  Meeting  convened by the Governor of Punjab  at  Chandigarh
recently  were  also of the view that congenial conditions  should  be
created  first  before holding the elections to the State  Legislative
Assembly.  Clauses (4) and (5) of article 356 of the Constitution are,
therefore, proposed to be amended so as to facilitate the extension of
the  said  Proclamation  up to a total period of three years  and   six
months in relation to the State of Punjab.

2.The Bill seeks to achieve the above objects.

NEW DELHI;                                     MUFTI MOHAMMED SAYEED.

The 2nd April, 1990.

THE CONSTITUTION (SIXTY-FOURTH AMENDMENT)
                              ACT, 1990