President's Rule restored in Uttarakhand, says A.G. Rohtagi

With the Supreme Court staying the Uttarakhand High Court's order of quashing President's Rule in the state, Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi on Friday said the apex court, after a detailed hearing has suspended the operation of the judgment of the high court.

Elaborating on the SC's order, Rohtagi said, "Now, the presidential proclamation that was quashed would not be valid and the earlier position would continue."

"Today the hearing took place at 3.30p.m., and after hearing both parties, the Supreme Court stayed the verdict of the Uttarakhand High Court, which in effect will not be there. It means the presidential proclamation that was quashed, will not be valid, and the earlier position, namely the governor's position, will continue," he added.

"The court has added a rider that the government will not revoke President's Rule till April 27. The Uttaranchal High Court's judgment will be given to all party concerned by April 26, and the next day on April 27, the Supreme Court start its hearing in the case," he added.

An apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra reviewed the order of the Uttarakhand High Court and stayed its verdict till April 27.

The high court had on Thursday set aside the Centre's rule imposed last month, saying Article 356 was imposed in the state contrary to the law laid down by the Supreme Court.

The high court accused the Centre of acting in blatant falsehood and behaving like a private party.

The high court asked ousted Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat to prove his government's majority on the floor of the assembly on the April 29.