Show Arunachal records, SC tells Centre, governor

The court also brushed aside Rohatgi’s plea that the petitions by the Congress leaders were “misconceived” and should not be entertained since they have challenged the governor’s recommendation but not the President’s notification.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre and Arunachal Pradesh Governor J P Rajkhowa to produce all records that prompted the Union government to impose President’s rule in the state.

The court recorded that senior counsel Satya Pal Jain, appearing for Governor Rajkhowa, “undertakes to furnish a copy of the governor’s report and other material recommending issuance of a proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution of India, to the court in a sealed cover”.

Since last one year, a minority government ran the state before the law and order machinery collapsed completely, the Governor reportedly stated in his report.

“Unless we get the grounds for recommending the President’s rule, we can not proceed”.

The bench asked the Attorney General not to raise “technical objections” when he persisted with his plea arguing that “rules are rules” and they apply equally to all.

An earlier plea filed by Nabam Rebia, who was allegedly removed from the post of Speaker by rebel Congress and BJP MLAs in an assembly session held at a community hall in Itanagar on December 16, has listed out legal questions, including the Governor’s power to convene the assembly session without the aid and advice of the government for adjudication by the apex court.

“Whatever is the worth of this petition (by Rajesh Tacho), you reply”.

President Pranab Mukherjee had on Tuesday night endorsed the Union Cabinet’s decision and brought Arunachal Pradesh under central rule after more than a month of political turmoil.

Terming the matter of imposing Central rule in the state as too serious a matter, the apex court constitution bench comprising Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Madan B Lokur, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh and Justice NV Ramana issued the notice giving the Centre time till January 29 to file its response and directed the hearing of the matter on Monday.