Arunachal governor submits reports on political crisis to SC

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa on Thursday submitted to the Supreme Court, in a sealed cover, his reports to the central government on the political crisis in the northeastern state including the one in which he recommended President's rule be imposed.

Rajkhowa submitted the reports in pursuance to the constitution bench of Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh and Justice N.V. Ramana's direction to his counsel Satya Pal Jain on Wednesday "to furnish a copy of the governor's report and other material recommending issuance of a proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution of India, to the court in a sealed cover".

Meanwhile, the Congress has moved the apex court challenging Rajkhowa's report recommending the imposition of President's rule in the party-ruled state and subsequent presidential proclamation.

Party's chief whip in the Arunachal assembly, Rajesh Tacho, filed an application amending the prayer in his January 25 petition.

By his January 25 plea, he had assailed the cabinet decision to recommend the President's rule in the border state.

The apex court had on Wednesday permitted Tacho to amend his plea to "assail the report of the governor, and the consequential proclamation".

Tacho on January 27 had told the court that senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for Governor Rajkhowa, had on January 14 urged the court to refer the entire matter to the constitution bench as it involved important constitutional issues, assuring it that while it is seized of the matter, no precipitate steps would be taken by the governor.

The Congress leader said that whatever had happened since then was contrary to what was told to the court on January 14 by Rajkhowa.

The apex court on Wednesday had issued notices to the central government and Rajkhowa on a plea challenging the imposition of President's Rule in the northeastern state on January 26. The court had asked the central government to file its response by January 29 and directed further hearing in the matter on February 1.