Uttarakhand HC quashes President's Rule

Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday quashed the President's Rule in the state. The Court said "Centre acted in 'blatant falsehood' and also accused Uttarakhand Speaker of "double standards'."

It also added that Art 356 was imposed in Uttarakhand contrary to law laid down by Supreme Court. The Uttarakhand High Court also ordered floor test in the Assembly on April 29.

The court rejected the Centre’s plea for stay. “We won’t stay our own judgement. You can go to Supreme Court and get it stayed.

The nine dissident Congress MLAs have to pay the price of committing “Constitutional sin” of defection by being disqualified, the court added.

It further said that "Status quo as on date of proclamation of President’s rule be restored. The Harish Rawat-government will revive."

The High Court concluded that the fate of nine Congress MLAs was entirely irrelevant and extraneous to imposition of President’s rule in the State.

Earlier, the Nainital High Court, on Thursday, said that it was "pained" by the Centre's actions in the case on imposition of President's Rule in Uttarakhand where the Centre was acting like a "private party".

Uttarakhand Chief Justice K M Joseph said that the Central government, which should be impartial, was acting like a "private party".

The reaction of the Court came after Harish Rawat's counsel presented his apprehension that the Centre might revoke President's Rule in Uttarakhand and try and get the BJP to form a government here before the Court's final verdict.

He also said that the Court was "pained" by the Centre's behaviour. "We are pained that the Central government can behave like this. How can you think of playing with the Court?" He said.

In an application filed by former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on April 7 it was apprehended that the Centre might revoke Article 356 from Uttarakhand and make attempts to get the BJP in Uttarakhand to form government.

The Centre had then assured the Bench that the Court would be informed about the Centre's decision but the assurance was only until April 17.

Presenting their apprehensions over the possibility that the Centre might revoke President's Rule before Court's final verdict and shall try and get the BJP to rule the State, Harish Rawat's counsel, on Thursday, requested the Bench comprising Chief Justice K M Joseph and Justice V K Bisht to pass an interim order.

Questioning the Centre over planning to attempt revoking President's Rule before court's final verdict, Chief Justice Joseph slammed the Centre for making such attempts. The Chief Justice said, "If they [the Centre] revoke Article 356 and try and form a government... What is it but a travesty of justice?"