The Supreme Court on Tuesday deferred till Wednesday the hearing on the Centre's appeal against Uttarakhand High Court verdict on imposition of President's rule in the state and asked the Centre to think about floor test under its supervision.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh, which had fixed the hearing on the plea at 2 PM today, took up the matter at 10.30 AM to apprise the parties concerned that it may not take up the case today as Justice Singh would be a part of another bench hearing matters related to medical entrance exams at 2 PM.

During the brief hearing, the bench repeated its suggestion that the Centre should consider holding a floor test in the Assembly under its supervision to ascertain the actual situation.

It asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to take instruction on the issue and apprise it about the same on Wednesday.

An apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, had on April 27, directed to continue the President's rule for the while.

The two-judge division bench, comprising of Justice Dipak Mishra and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh, had also asked several questions to the Centre asking it to justify imposition of President's rule in the state.

Hearing the Centre's plea against the Uttarakhand High Court order, the apex court sought to know whether the Governor could have sent a message in the present manner under Article175 (2) to conduct a floor test and if delay in the floor test can be a ground for the proclamation of President's rule in the state.

The apex court has also sought to know whether disqualification of MLAs by the Uttarakhand Speaker is a relevant issue for the purpose of imposing President's rule under Article 356 and proceedings in the Uttarakhand assembly can be taken note of by the President for imposing his rule.

The apex court further asked the Centre as to what the stage is of the Appropriation Bill and when President's rule comes into the picture with regards to the Appropriation Bill.

The Centre had introduced President's rule on March 27.

(With agency inputs)