Murder of democracy: Opposition attacks President’s rule in Arunachal

The apex court also expressed its displeasure for not being informed about the developments, reported PTI.

A five judge constitution bench headed by Justice J S Khehar has asked both the parties to file their resposes by 4pm Friday explaining the circumstances under which the presidents rule has been imposed and adjourned the matter for further hearing on February 1, Monday at 2pm.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had said the cabinet was forced to take the decision because of a Constitutional breakdown as six months had lapsed between two sessions of the state Assembly.

The President rule in Arunachal Pradesh has sparked off yet another political turned legal battle between the Congress Party and Bharatiya Janata Party with the Supreme Court questioning the governor on why he pitched for declaring emergency in the north-eastern state. “This is a war on Democracy…From the streets to the Parliament, the Indian National Congress will fight the autocratic behaviour of the Narendra Modi Government”, Congress leader Raj Babbar said at a press conference here. “We briefed the president about it. Whatever questions he had, we replied to him as well”, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said after a party delegation met the president and submitted a memorandum.

If it had freed the state government from the restraint imposed by the high court to not call a session of the legislature as the circumstances relating to it were sub judice, then the matter would have been in the political realm, not the constitutional arena.

President Pranab Mukherjee signed off on central rule for Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday after the Centre strongly recommended it and also gave an in-person clarification.

“There is a crisis situation created in Arunachal Pradesh?“.

Accusing Congress of breaching all decorum, he said the Chief Minister and his ministers had used most indecorous language against the Governor and animals were slaughtered outside the latter’s house.

As the assembly has been kept under suspended animation, other petitions challenging the Governor’s power to summon the assembly session without the aid and advice of the council of ministers, and disqualification of MLAs by the Deputy Speaker will not become infructuous.

The petition sought the Centre and the Governor to produce before the Supreme Court the entire records based on which they recommended President’s rule.

“Actions/inactions on the part of the Centre and the Governor directly and inevitably impact on the fundamental right of the Petitioner herein under Article 14 of the Constitution herein read with Article 21 of the Constitution, apart from encroaching upon the democratic principles of governance”, the plea said.

Rebia was removed as speaker by 14 rebel Congress legislators backed by BJP legislators on December 16 at an assembly session held in a community hall in Itanagar that was presided over by the deputy speaker.