Floor Test
Constitutional Basis and the Bommai Doctrine
A floor test is the constitutional mechanism by which a newly formed or challenged government demonstrates its majority on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. Its basis in Indian constitutional law was definitively established by the Supreme Court in S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994).
- *S.R. Bommai v. Union of India [(1994) 3 SCC 1]: A nine-judge Constitutional Bench held that the floor of the Assembly — not the Governor's subjective assessment — is the only valid method to determine whether a government commands majority support.
- The Governor cannot recommend President's Rule merely on the basis of reports or calculations of legislative strength; a floor test must be afforded to the government first.
- Composite floor test: In cases of coalition governments or disputed majority, a "composite floor test" (testing individual candidates in a multi-party context) may be ordered.
- Physical presence vs. abstention: The Constitution does not mandate that MLAs physically attend; however, the absence of an entire community bloc raises questions of legitimacy even where numerical majority is established.
- Whip and Anti-Defection: Under the Tenth Schedule (52nd Amendment Act, 1985), an MLA who votes against the party whip during a floor test risks disqualification for defection. However, absenting oneself without voting — as the Kuki-Zo MLAs did — does not automatically trigger disqualification.
- The Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly presides over the floor test; no external authority can direct how the test is conducted.
● Tracked since February 06, 2026 · last seen May 13, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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