Uttarakhand political crisis: Harish Rawat should be allowed to take trust vote, suggests Supreme Court

Giving a suggestion to the Centre, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said that Harish Rawat, who was displaces as Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, should be allowed to take a trust vote. The Centre had put Uttarakhand under President’s Rule in March, which triggered a political crisis in the state. The Centre has also been accused of misusing its power following its decision.

The Supreme Court today asked the Attorney General to take instruction and apprise it about the feasibility of holding a floor test in Uttarakhand Assembly under its supervision.

The court adjourned till Wednesday the hearing on the Centre’s appeal against the Uttarakhand High Court verdict revoking President’s rule in the state.

A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh, which had fixed the hearing on the plea at 2 PM today, took up the matter at 10.30 AM to apprise the parties concerned that it may not take up the case today as Justice Singh would be a part of another bench hearing matters related to medical entrance exams at 2 PM.

During the brief hearing, the bench repeated its suggestion that the Centre should consider holding a floor test in the Assembly under its supervision to ascertain the actual situation.

It asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to take instruction on the issue and apprise it about the same on Wednesday.

Rawat and his party Congress had approached the court challenging the removal of its government in Uttarakhand. Last month, the Uttarakhand High Court had ruled in their favour. Following the Uttarakhand High Court ruling, the Centre had approached the country’s top court.

Rawat was removed just a day before taking the trust vote to prove majority in the Uttarakhand legislature. The Centre alleged a constitutional crisis in the state. Nine partymen allegedly voted against Harish Rawat when he presented the state budget, thus pushing his status under question. 

(With inputs from PTI)