SC resumes hearing on pleas for examining Governors' powers

New Delhi: The Supreme Court, which is considering pleas against imposition of President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh, on Tuesday resumed hearing on earlier petitions seeking examination of constitutional schemes on the scope of discretionary powers of the Governor.

A five-judge bench headed by Justice J S Khehar examined in detail certain communications between the offices of the Governor and the Chief Minister before the imposition of central rule in the crisis-hit hill state.

"There are little more serious queries on it and we will raise them tomorrow," the bench, also comprising Justices Dipak Misra, M B Lokur, P C Ghose and N V Ramana, said. The bench is also examining the authority of Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa as to whether he can advance the assembly session without the aid and advice of the Chief Minister and his council of ministers.

The court, which has been hearing various pleas arising out of Gauhati High Court judgement in the political crisis case, now has to deal with many fresh petitions against the imposition of central rule in the state.

Deposed Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, ex-Assembly speaker Nabam Rebia and some other Congress leaders have moved the apex court. Yesterday, the court conceded its "mistake" and recalled a notice it issued to the state Governor in cases arising out of imposition of President's Rule.

It, however, rejected the Centre's opposition in giving documents, seized from the former Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues after central rule was imposed, to them. The court, which will hear on Monday the pleas against the President's rule, would tomorrow resume hearing on the petitions seeking examination of powers of Governors.

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

The Governor then called assembly session on December 16 in which Deputy Speaker revoked disqualification of 14 rebel Congress MLAs and removed Rebia from the post of Speaker. This sitting was held in a community hall in Itanagar.