HC decision will strengthen democratic institutions: Kuldip Nayyar

Former Rajya Sabha MP and noted columnist Kuldip Nayyar on Thursday said the Uttarakhand High Court's order setting aside president's rule in the state will strengthen the country's democratic institutions.

"It is rare and for the first time that a strong ruling has come from the high court on the president's rule. The decision is welcome and it will strengthen democratic institutions and constitutional propriety," he told IANS here.

"The ruling makes it clear that Harish Rawat was wrongly removed as chief minister. His position as the leader of the house and the chief minister has been restored now," Nayyar said.

He said it was a rare occasion that a court ruling had sought to revive the stint of a dismissed state government.

A few other legal and constitutional experts endorsed Nayyar's stand and said that following the high court order, Governor K.K. Paul has no option but to convene one-day session of the assembly on April 29 for a floor test.

"The high court ruling makes it clear that the status quo ante should prevail and Rawat should be henceforth considered as the chief minister," a former union law minister said on the condition of anonymity.

On the other hand, there were others, especially those inclined towards the Bharatiya Janata Party and the central government, who disagreed on Rawat's current status "pending revocation" of the President's Rule.

The Centre was expected to move the Supreme Court on Friday against the high court ruling, a law ministry source told IANS.

One constitutional expert said: "I cannot speak on the issue more as we have to see the court order first."

Meanwhile, top Bharatiya Janata Party leadership, including party chief Amit Shah, had a meeting on the issue.

--IANS

nd/tsb/vm