Uttarakhand crisis: HC stays floor test on Centre's petition, next hearing on April 6

A two-judge division bench stayed an earlier court order that had set March 31 for a floor test in the state Assembly

A two-judge division bench of the Uttarakhand High Court on Wednesday stayed a floor test on the Assembly floor, as ordered by an earlier one-judge bench. 

The two-judge bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice K M Joseph and Justice V K Bisht also fixed April 6 as the next date of hearing.

The central government, represented by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, had challenged the HC's earlier order, seeking clarity on whether the floor test can be held in the state Assembly after the promulgation of President's rule when the House is in suspended animation.

On Tuesday, following a two-day hearing on a writ petition challenging the imposition of President's rule in the state, Justice U C Dhyani had in an interim order directed a floor test in the Assembly on March 31. He had also allowed even the nine disqualified rebel MLAs of the Congress to vote during the exercise.

The decision to call for a floor test was seen as a major embarrassment to the BJP-led central government, which had imposed President's rule in the Congress-ruled state. The imposition of President's rule had been challenged by incumbent Chief Minister Harish Rawat.