Uttarakhand crisis: SC asks Centre to think about floor test, adjourns hearing till tomorrow

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to think about the possibility of holding a floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly in order to resolve the political crisis in the state.

The apex court, while referring to Rameshwar judgement, asked Centre to think about the possibility of having a floor test under its supervision.

The apex court asked the AG to clear Centre's stand on the issue.

The apex court said this while hearing Centre's plea against Uttarakhand High Court order revoking President's Rule in the state before adjourning the case for hearing tomorrow.

The Centre had last week challenged the Nainital High Court order quashing imposition of President’s Rule in Uttarakhand.

An apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, had on April 27, directed to continue the President’s Rule for the while.

Posting the matter for further hearing on May 3 (today), it had extended the stay on the high court’s order quashing the central rule in Uttarakhand.

The two-judge division bench, comprising of Justice Dipak Mishra and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh, had also asked several questions to the Centre asking it to justify imposition of President’s Rule in the state.

Hearing the Centre’s plea against the Uttarakhand High Court order, the apex court sought to know whether the Governor could have sent a message in the present manner under Article175 (2) to conduct a floor test and if delay in the floor test can be a ground for the proclamation of President’s Rule in the state.

The apex court also sought to know whether disqualification of MLAs by the Uttarakhand Speaker is a relevant issue for the purpose of imposing President’s Rule under Article 356 and proceedings in the Uttarakhand Assembly can be taken note of by the President for imposing his rule.

The apex court further asked the Centre as to what the stage is of the Appropriation Bill and when President’s rule comes into the picture with regards to the Appropriation Bill.

The Centre had introduced President’s Rule on March 27.