Uttarakhand crisis: High Court stays floor test in assembly, next hearing on April 6

The Uttarakhand High Court on Wednesday stayed the floor test in the Assembly, which was scheduled on March 31, till next hearing on April 6. Earlier on Wednesday, the Centre had moved the Uttarakhand High Court challenging an interim order by a single bench directing a floor test in the Assembly, days after President’s Rule was imposed in the state. 

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had mentioned a petition on behalf of the central government before a division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice K M Joseph and Justice V K Bisht.

Clarity was sought in the petition on whether the floor test can be held in the state Assembly after the promulgation of President’s rule when the House is in suspended animation.

After a two-day hearing on a writ petition challenging the imposition of President’s rule in the state, the single judge bench of Justice U C Dhyani in an interim order yesterday directed a floor test in the Assembly on March 31 and allowed even the nine disqualified rebel MLAs of the Congress to vote during the exercise.

Filed by former chief minister Harish Rawat through his counsel and senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, the writ petition has Union of India as the respondent. 

(With PTI inputs)