Centre to challenge Uttarakhan HC's verdict in SC

Notwithstanding the Uttarakhand High Court's striking down President's Rule in the state, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on Thursday said the Centre would challenge the court's verdict in the Supreme Court on Friday morning.

"We are filing an appeal, which is being prepared. It will be lodged in the Supreme Court tomorrow (on Friday) morning, and we shall be mentioning to the senior most judge since the Chief Justice is not holding the court tomorrow for listing of the appeal for hearing tomorrow itself, may be in the afternoon or may be as soon as possible," he said.

When sought his response the HC's on observations, Rohatgi said, "We don't have even a copy of the judgment, so till I read the judgment I cannot say what observations are there or not. But, certainly we shall be asking for the stay of the judgment, saying that the President notification cannot be quashed in this fashion."

Talking about the petition filled by disqualified MLAs, he said "The Central Government is nothing to do with the case of the disqualified MLAs. They filed their own petition that petition is pending in the high court. They will argue their petition. They may be filing an appeal in the court tomorrow. I do not know. I have nothing to with that."

In a setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government at the Centre, the court on Thursday set aside President's rule proclamation in the state.

Allowing ousted chief minister Harish Rawat's petition challenging the imposition of President's Rule, the court fixed April 29 for the floor test for him.