Gauhati HC stays Governor’s orders

ARUCHAL POLITICAL CRISIS

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Dec 17: Cooling down the political heat in Aruchal Pradesh, the Gauhati High Court today stayed “all decisions” by Governor JP Rajkhowa, which in effect will put into abeyance the maneuvers of the two warring Congress factions owing allegiance to Chief Minister bam Tuki and his rival Kalikho Pul.

The court ruling came on a writ petition filed by Aruchal Assembly Speaker bam Rebia.

Taking exception to the notification issued by Governor J P Rajkhowa advancing the session, Justice Hrishikesh Roy observed that prima facie it was in violation of Art 174 and 175 of the Constitution dealing with convening of the session by the Governor and his message to the House.

Issuing notice, Justice Hrishikesh Roy kept in abeyance the impugned decisions including the notification issued by the Deputy Speaker restoring the membership of 14 suspended MLAs and the holding of the “session” at a new place and also the decision taken at the “session” on Wednesday in which the Speaker was removed.

The judge allowed petitioner’s counsel Kapil Sibal to implead the government of Aruchal Pradesh as a party respondent. He posted the case for next hearing on February 1.

“We have said in the writ petition that the decisions of the Governor have been one-sided and they favoured one particular political party,” Sibal told reporters.