SC orders status quo in Aruchal

Apex court direction came within hours of the Union Cabinet recommending revocation of PR

New Delhi, Feb 17: The Supreme Court today ordered a status quo in Aruchal Pradesh within hours of the Union Cabinet recommending revocation of President's Rule.

The Supreme Court ordered status quo in the political crisis-hit State till it peruses records pertaining to disqualification of 14 rebel Congress MLAs by the Speaker.

 The apex court also asked the Secretary General of Aruchal Pradesh Assembly and the Guwahati High Court to furnish records on disqualification of the MLAs by tomorrow.

 The Supreme Court had earlier questioned Governor JP Rajkhowa's use of his "constitutiol discretion" to advance the sixth session of the Aruchal Pradesh Assembly by over a month, asking whether it was backed by sound constitutiol principles or based on a mere whim.

Advancing the session from its scheduled date of January 14, 2016 to December 16, 2015 in order to remove Speaker Nebam Rebia triggered the entire political crisis leading to the imposition of President's Rule on January 26.

 The apex court bench's questions pertained to the order issued by Rajkhowa on December 9, 2015 to advance the Assembly session without consulting Chief Minister bam Tuki and his Council of Ministers under Article 174 (1) of the Constitution.

Earlier in the day, the Union Cabinet recommended revocation of President's Rule in the State.

The move came a day after the Supreme Court refused to restrain the Governor from swearing-in a new government in the state.

 Central rule was imposed in Aruchal Pradesh on January 26.

 On Monday, thirty one MLAs, led by Congress dissident Kalikho Pul, called on the Governor to stake claim for forming the next government in the State.

 Pul was accompanied by nineteen Congress MLAs along with eleven Bharatiya Jata Party legislators and two independent members. This led the Congress to move the Supreme Court seeking an order that no new government formation be permitted and status quo maintained. However, the apex court refused to pass an interim order restraining the Governor from swearing in a new government in Aruchal Pradesh.