Gauhati High Court admits plea of Arunachal Pradesh's rebel Congress MLAs

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati high court has admitted a petition of dissident Congress MLAs of Arunachal Pradesh, who have challenged the order of a single-bench that kept in abeyance decisions taken by some legislators who met in a ‘make-shift assembly.’

The petition will be heard on January 4. The court of Justice BK Sharma has asked Speaker Nabam Rebia not to convene any session till then. The Speaker had filed a writ petition challenging the notification of December 9, by the state governor advancing the assembly session to December 16 from January 14. He had also challenged the notification issued by the deputy Speaker, who lifted the suspension order against 14 MLAs, his order to hold the session at a new venue and the decision of the ‘session’ dated December 16.

A lawyer who appeared for the dissent camp told ET, "the court heard us and admitted our petition. The next hearing will be on January 4. Till then, the Speaker is asked not convene any session of the assembly."

NGO, All Nyishi Students’ Union has, meanwhile, alleged that Union minister of state for home minister Kiren Rijiju was orchestrating political turmoil in the state. However Rijiju refuted the allegations saying that he had no interest in state politics.