Arunachal row: Gauhati High Court stays Assembly 'session' decisions by Governor

Guwahati: Coming down heavily on Arunachal Pradesh Governor J P Rajkhowa, the Gauhati High Court on Thursday kept in abeyance all decisions taken by the state "Assembly" on Wednesday in which it "removed" Speaker Nabam Rebia.

The court order came on a writ petition filed by the Speaker challenging the Dec 9 notification issued by the Governor advancing the Assembly session to December 16 from the scheduled day of January 24, 2016.

Prima facie, the court observed, that the exercise undertaken by the Governor advancing the Assembly session to December 16, 2015 is in "violation of Article 174 and 175 of the Constitution.

The two Articles relate to Sessions of the state legislature and the right of the Governor to address and send messages 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" yesterday in which the Speaker was removed.

The judge allowed petitioner Kapil Sibal to implead the government of Arunachal Pradesh as a party respondent.

The judge posted the case for next hearing on February 1, 2016.