The recent political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh, where the powers of the Governor and Speaker of the Assembly have been called in question, will now be decided by a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court.
On Thursday, a two-judge Bench of Justices JS Khehar and C Nagappan hearing the bunch of petitions filed in this regard decided to refer the case files to Chief Justice of India for constituting a Constitution Bench of five judges to hear the matter. Just a day ago, the court had directed no Session of the Assembly to be conducted till January 18 pending consideration of the questions of law raised before it.
Soon after the orders were passed, senior lawyers Fali Nariman, Harish Salve and Kapil Sibal approached the court of CJI to constitute a Bench at the earliest due citing urgency. The CJI assured the lawyers of an early decision.
Nabam Rebia, who was removed from the post of Speaker by 14 rebel Congress and BJP MlAs, had approached the apex court against the decision which was passed in a parallel proceeding held by Deputy Speaker at a community hall. The Deputy Speaker, before removing Rebia, also quashed the disqualification of the rebel Congress legislators. Rebia also questioned the authority of the Governor to order advancing of the Assembly Session without consulting the legislature.