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‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ Observed Nationwide to Mark 50 Years Since Emergency (25 June 1975–77).

National | Dated: 25 Jun 2025

On 25 June 2025, India commemorated the 50th anniversary of the 1975–77 Emergency by observing ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ (Constitution Murder Day), a national initiative highlighting the suspension of democratic freedoms and honouring those who bravely defended the Constitution.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The Government of India—under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah—declared 25 June as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ beginning July 2024. A year-long programme (June 2024–June 2026) includes state-level events, seminars, cultural activities, and educational outreach to promote civic awareness.
  • - On 25 June 1975, President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, under Article 352 (National Emergency) citing “internal disturbance,” imposed a nationwide Emergency. It marked the only use of “internal disturbance” grounds, which was later removed by the 44th Constitutional Amendment in 1978.
  • - During the 21-month Emergency, fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 were suspended, press censorship was enforced, and around 1.1 lakh people—including opposition leaders, journalists, activists—were detained under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). Forced mass sterilization programmes and centralisation of power were major atrocities.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) Several state-level commemorations and ceremonies were held across India to mark 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' on 25 June 2025. In Chandigarh, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria led a solemn event at Tagore Theatre, where journalists, students, and activists were honoured, and the role of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan’s mass movement against the Emergency was recalled. In Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel described the Emergency as a "blemished event in India's democratic history," while retired Justice Ravikumar Tripathi delivered a talk on the misuse of constitutional provisions during that period. Meanwhile, in Kurukshetra, Union Minister of State (MoS) S.P. Singh Baghel compared the Indian Constitution to sacred texts like the Gita, Guru Granth Sahib, and the Bible, emphasizing that constitutional reforms should be made in the national interest, not for political convenience.
  • (ii) On 25 June 2025, the Union Cabinet—chaired by PM Narendra Modi—passed a resolution honouring “countless individuals” who opposed the Emergency and suffered its excesses, formally recognizing their contributions to democracy.
  • (iii) The Ministry of Culture and state governments (e.g., Odisha) are hosting exhibitions, film screenings, workshops, and academic events aimed at young audiences. These programmes emphasize civil liberties, constitutional safeguards, and the historical lessons from the Emergency era.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

India recently observed which anniversary of the declaration of the Emergency (1975–77) on 25th June 2025, markes nationwide as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’?

Correct Answer: 50th

🚀 Quick Recap: