Article 356 (President's Rule) was invoked in Kerala in 1959 to dismiss the E.M.S. Namboodiripad-led Communist government — the first elected Communist government in India. It was the first use of President's Rule in Indian history and remains one of the most controversial applications of Article 356.

As per Article 65 of the Indian Constitution, if both the President and Vice President are unavailable, the Chief Justice of India acts as the President. If the Chief Justice is also unavailable, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court assumes the role.