In a reprieve to state agriculture minister Harak Singh Rawat, the Uttarakhand High Court today dismissed a writ petition challenging the legality of an ordinance which dropped the corporations he chaired, from the ambit of offices of profit.
Dismissing the petition by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajay Bhatt, Justice V K Bisht of the high court observed, the ordinance through which Rawat held the posts and were dropped from the ambit of offices of profit, was a decision made under the jurisdiction of the state.
The court further noted that no malafide intention appeared in allowing the cabinet minister to continue holding the posts in question, until the ordinance was passed.
The BJP, which had sought Rawat's disqualification from the House on the ground that he chaired three corporations despite being a minister, had gone to court challenging an ordinance which was quickly promulgated by the government, dropping the posts he held from the list of offices of profit.
The high court had earlier reserved the judgement after hearing the case on June 11.
When contacted, Bhatt said his petition had been dismissed by the court and was yet to receive a copy of the judgement.
However, he said he will file a special appeal against the order and continue his fight in saving the honour of the Constitution.
