SC mulls floor test, seeks Centre reply

Legal Correspondent

 New Delhi, May 3

The Supreme Court today suggested a floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly to assess the strength of the ousted Congress government headed by Chief Minister Harish Rawat and asked the Centre to take a stand on the issue by tomorrow.

A Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh was to resume hearing today on the Centre’s appeal against the Uttarakhand High Court verdict quashing the imposition of President’s rule in the state. The apex court has stayed the High Court ruling, but has restrained the Centre from trying to install a BJP government in the state.

The Bench said it would lift President’s rule for a few days to enable voting in the Assembly, to which Advocate General Mukul Rohatgi said he would consult the Centre. 

The apex court has already clarified that it would conclude the hearing on the Centre’s appeal this week and deliver the verdict before May 13, the last working day before the summer break.

 The Bench said it would determine the validity of the President’s rule, imposed in the state on March 27, on the basis of seven aspects, the most important being the need for Central invention, doubting the legality of the Assembly proceedings.