The Uttarakhand High Court has accepted the Congress’ plea and ordered a floor test to determine which party enjoys a majority.
The court has appointed the registrar as the observer of the floor test. All MLAs have been asked to participate, which will be held on 31 March.
Nine Congress MLAs were disqualified by the Speaker on 2 March. Their votes will be counted ‘separately for identification.’
The result of the floor test, which will be declared after the 31st, will be submitted to the court in a sealed envelope. The High Court has stayed the decision to impose President’s rule in the state.
The decision on whether President’s rule will continue in the state will depend on the results of the floor test.
The high court ordered the DGP to ensure security in the Assembly when the floor test is carried out.
The Centre, however, has said that it will contest this order by the hight court. That plea could be heard either by the high court bench or a Supreme Court bench.
Rawat, whose government was sacked on Sunday on the grounds of “breakdown of Constitutional machinery”, had moved the court on Tuesday, calling the Centre’s decision to impose President’s rule “arbitrary” and demanded its quashing.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Harish Rawat’s counsel, said the court accepted the Congress’ position that despite President’s rule, there was enough scope for judicial review to allow a floor test.
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