SC vacates status quo order on Arunachal, decks cleared for government formation

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has vacated a status quo order imposed on President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh, paving the way for a new government led by Congress dissident leader Kalikho Pul and the BJP to be sworn in the state.

The Constitution bench order will allow the Narendra Modi government to revoke President's rule imposed on January 26.

The top court said that the Guwahati High Court will now examine the issue of disqualification of 14 rebel Congress MLAs. The high court had in an interim order quashed the ousted speaker's order disqualifying them.

Nabam Rebia, the speaker, then moved the top court against the decision.

The order vacating status quo came on February 18 after the court perused the speaker's order and papers relating to disqualification.

The court said that the speaker had not followed the principles of natural justice in disqualifying them.

Chief Minister Nabam Tuki of the Congress had been reduced to a strength of 25 MLAs after the defections which sparked off a constitutional crisis in the state.

The constitution bench order will allow the Modi government to revoke President's rule imposed on January 26.

The top court said the Guwahati High Court will now examine the issue of disqualification of 14 rebel Congress MLAs. The HC had in an interim order quashed the ousted speaker's order disqualifying them.

Nabam rebia, the speaker, then moved the top court against the decision. The top court order vacating status quo came after the court perused the speaker's order and papers relating to disqualification.

The top court said that the speaker had not followed the principles of natural justice in disqualifying them.

Congress CM Nabam Tuki had been reduced to 25 after the defections, which sparked off a constitutional crisis there.