Uttarakhand crisis: No floor test in the assembly on March 31, rules two judge bench

A two judge bench ruled on Wednesday that no floor test will take place in the assembly. The next hearing is set to take place on April 6. The Centre will send its affidavit on the President's rule by Monday.

The Centre on Wednesday moved the Uttarakhand High Court challenging an interim order by a single bench directing a floor test in the Assembly on March 31, days after President's Rule was imposed in the state. 

A petition was mentioned before a division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice KM Joseph and Justice VK Bisht by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on behalf of the central government. The petition sought clarity on whether the floor test can be held in the state Assembly after the promulgation of President's rule when the House is in suspended animation.

After a two-day hearing on a writ petition challenging the imposition of President's rule in the state, the single judge bench of Justice UC Dhyani in an interim order yesterday directed a floor test in the Assembly on March 31 and allowed even the nine disqualified rebel MLAs of the Congress to vote during the exercise.

Filed by former chief minister Harish Rawat through his counsel and senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, the writ petition has Union of India as the respondent.