Uttarakhand crisis: High Court asks Harish Rawat to take floor test on March 31

The nine Congress rebels who were disqualified by the speaker will be allowed to take part in the vote

The Uttarakhand High Court on Tuesday told former chief minister Harish Rawat to take a floor test in the assembly on March 31.

The state came under President's Rule two days back.

Hearing a petition by Rawat, the court also said that all nine Congress rebels who were disqualified by the speaker will be allowed to take part in the vote.

It said the result of the voting should be presented to the court on April 1.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represented Rawat in the High Court, contended the circumstances were not suitable for invoking Article 356 of the Constitution, under which the government was dismissed and the Assembly kept under suspended animation.

Earlier, The Supreme Court said it will hear a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand next week.

Let it be listed next week," a bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur, Justices R Banumathi and U U Lalit said.

The court's observation came when advocate M L Sharma sought urgent listing of the PIL on the issue.