Uttarakhand crisis: HC dismisses petition filed by rebel Congress MLAs

Dehradun: The Uttarakhand High Court on Friday dismissed the petition filed by the rebel Congress MLAs challenging the notice issued to them by Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal.

Nine rebel MLAs had earlier on Friday filed a petition in the High Court challenging the showcause notice issued to them by the Speaker.

The High Court, which was closed on Friday, was specially opened to hear the petition at Justice UC Dhyani court.

The Speaker had on Sunday served a notice to the nine rebels, including former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna and former cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat, questioning their move to join BJP legislators on March 18.

The Uttarakhand battle reached the corridors of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday with the BJP demanding President Pranab Mukherjee to dismiss the Harish Rawat-led government while the Congress accused the ruling dispensation at the Centre of attempting to destabilise the grand old party.

Bahuguna and the other eight rebel MLAs have also been issued notices by the Speaker under the anti-defection law.

The Congress has told all of its MLAs that any indiscipline will not be tolerated at any cost and strict action will be taken against the violators.

Chief Minister Rawat had earlier this week accused the NDA Government of attempting to destabilise his government while rejecting the BJP`s allegations of corruption in his state.