‘Displaced’ Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on Thursday filed a fresh petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the imposition of President’s Rule in his state – after the court pointed out shortcomings in the original petition.
The court has posted the matter for February 1, after asking Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to file their responses by Friday. The petitioners have been allowed to amend their pleas by Friday.
A five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Justice J.S. Khehar, will hear this plea along with other petitions, moved by Rajesh Tacho, chief whip of the Congress Legislature party in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly.
Nabam Tuki, who headed the Congress government in the state, had to file a fresh petition after Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Central Government, had raised the objection that the earlier petitions had not challenged the imposition of President’s Rule.
While saying that “it is too serious a matter”, the bench had sought the report of Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa, who had recommended central rule.
The bench had asked the Attorney-General not to raise “technical objections” when he persisted with his plea arguing that “rules are rules” and that they applied equally to all.
Arunachal Legislative Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia has filed petition against his impeachment by a faction of rebel Congress MLAs along with BJP MLAs at an Assembly Session convened by Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa at a community hall on December 16.
A Congress party delegation on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the President, Pranab Mukherjee, against the President’s Rule. Pranab Mukherjee later the promulgation of the President’s Rule.
Tuki, on the other hand, said that there was no constitutional crisis in the Arunachal Pradesh, but still the BJP wanted to impose President’s Rule so that it could take control of the state.
“BJP want to rule #ArunachalPradesh from the Centre, from Delhi. Arunachal is a peaceful state,” tweeted Tuki on Wednesday. “People are upset over President’s rule imposed in #ArunachalPradesh.We will fight in the court. We expect justice.”