DMK under Pressure

as such by the President of India. It is unquestionable that the definition of a ruler connotes recognition by the President but it is difficult to appreciate how the definition clause permits derecognition of all the riders at one fell stroke. The power to derecognise seems to envisage that the President has the power to extend recognition to any other person instead of the person who entered into the original convenant or His successor. This power was exercised in the case of the Gaekwad of Baroda where by a Presidential order, instead of Pratap Singh who had signed the instrument of accession, his eldest son was recognised as the Gaekwad. Pratap Singh was charged, among other things, With taking part in activities intended to upset the Constitutional settlement between the Government of India and the ruler of the native State.