What was the Emergency? On June 12, 1975, the Allahabad High Court had declared the election of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as null and void. Following the court decision, Gandhi moved the Supreme Court and a vacation bench of justice Krishna Iyer stayed the high court’s decision allowing Gandhi to remain as PM while limiting her right to vote in the parliament till the appeal was decided. Following an opposition rally for the resignation of Indira Gandhi, she made a decision to impose a national Emergency which would give the central government sweeping powers. On June 25, 1975 then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed relying on Article 352 of the Constitution declared a national Emergency in the country. The notification of the proclamation of Emergency was published in the official gazette on June 26, 1975 when it took effect.