SC Quashes President's Rule in Arunachal, Orders Restoration of Congress Govt

New Delhi: In a major setback to the Centre, the Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed the imposition of President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh and ordered restoration of the Congress government in the state. In its landmark unanimous verdict, a five-judge constitution bench, headed by Justice JS Khehar, ordered that status quo ante as prevailed on December 15, 2015 be restored in Arunachal Pradesh Assembly.

It held that all steps and decisions taken by Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in pursuance to Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa's order of December 9, 2015, are unsustainable.

The apex court said the Governor's decision advancing Arunachal Pradesh Assembly session by a month is violative of the Constitution and liable to be quashed. The court said that the Governor's direction on conducting assembly proceedings is violative of the Constitution.

With this judgement, Nabam Tuki-led Congress government has been restored in the state.

Welcoming the order, former Arunchal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki said, "We were hopeful since the beginning that we will get justice from the Supreme Court. Our expectations have been fulfilled. The democracy of the state has been restored. BJP illegally tried to remove ministers. We have received justice. I will go back to the state and will talk to the party members. We will summon a meeting and things will be decided accordingly. I am yet to receive the details of the judgment copy."

Besides Justice Khehar, other members of the bench were Justices Dipak Misra, MB Lokur, PC Ghose and NV Ramana. Today's verdict comes as a shot in the arm for Congress months with Arunachal Pradesh becoming the second state after Uttarakhand where the party-ruled government was restored by the apex court.

Refusing to comment on the verdict, the Home Ministry said it is waiting for a copy of the screen order. "Only after we see the order can we decide on action if any by Centre. This has to be discussed," the Ministry said.

The bench had segregated two other sets of petitions which were filed against the subsequent promulgation of President's Rule in the state and its revocation thereafter, which had led to the formation of a new government.

Hailing the verdict, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "Supreme Court re-writes history. Democracy wins with a thumping majority, Modiji's politics of defections and conspiracy fails miserably."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was quick to hit out at the Narendra Modi government and tweeted, "The SC judgment is yet another tight slap on dictatorial Modi government."

Just before the apex court had reserved its verdict on February 20, rebel Congress leader Kalikho Pul was sworn in as the ninth Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh with the support of 18 dissident Congress MLAs and two independents and 11 BJP MLAs who gave outside support.

Congress party, which had 47 MLAs seats in the 60-member assembly, suffered a jolt when 21 of its lawmakers rebelled in January 2016. Eleven BJP MLAs backed the rebels in the bid to upstage the government. Later, 14 rebel Congress MLAs were disqualified.

Arunachal Pradesh was placed under President's Rule on January 26.

Hours after the Union Cabinet had decided to recommend revocation of President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh, the apex court had on February 17 ordered maintenance of status quo in the politically fragile state till it examined judicial and assembly records on disqualification of the 14 rebel Congress MLAs by former Speaker Nabam Rebia.

On February 16, the court had also refused to pass an interim order on a plea of Congress leaders that Rajkhowa be restrained from swearing in a new government in Arunachal Pradesh.

(With additional information from PTI)