NEW DELHI: After the Supreme Court paved the way for government formation in Arunachal, President Pranab Mukherjee lifted President’s Rule in the region.
The President’s nod came after the last-ditch effort of Congress leader and deposed Chief Minister Nabam Tuki seeking an interim direction that his party be allowed to go for a floor test in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly to prove majority was rejected by the Supreme Court on Friday.
“This may be a possible manner of dealing with the issue, but the matter is still pending before us and we have not yet tendered our decision,” a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice J S Khehar said.
Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing Congress leaders of the state mentioned before the Bench that the party enjoyed majority and asked that a direction be issued for holding floor test in the Assembly.
Sibal said, “We have suspected all this (alleged bid to revoke President’s Rule and install a new government). We have told our apprehensions to the court and now all that are coming true.”
“We may agree with you and may not agree with you in the case, but if we agree with you, then everyone knows what will happen. Nobody will take that chance,” the Bench said while referring to the apprehension regarding the formation of a new government in the crisis-ridden state.
Sibal raised another apprehension, asking what would happen if the Centre and Governor J P Rajkhowa swore in a new Chief Minister and went on to dissolve the House to ensure that power remains in their hand till snap polls are held.
“Soon after swearing in of a new government, they will dissolve the House and exercise control through a care-taker government,” Sibal said, urging that now some order should be given in the case as they have concluded the arguments.
The SC, however, declined this request too and said that members of the Bench may have different views and an order will be pronounced only after all arguments are concluded. The court had on Thursday vacated its interim order to maintain status quo in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly, which could pave the way for government formation by rebel Congress MLAs with the support of BJP lawmakers.