Admitting a petition by the former Chief Minister Harish Rawat and former Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hridayesh, challenging a Central Ordinance authorising expenditure in Utarakhand under President’s Rule, the Uttarakhand High Court has directed the Government of India to submit the necessary documents by April 5. The High Court also set the matter for next hearing on April 6.
The petition has contended that the Vidhan Sabha had duly passed the Appropriation Bill by voice vote on March 18 before imposition of President’s Rule and promulgation of Uttarakhand Appropriation (Vote on Account) Ordinance, 2016 by the President a day ago.
A writ petition challenging promulgation of the ordinance was advocated by senior Supreme Court lawyer and former Union minister Kapil Sibal before the division bench of the Uttarakhand High Court comprising Chief Justice KM Joseph and Justice VK Bist.
The ordinance is to provide for withdrawal of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of Uttarakhand for the services of a part of the financial year 2016-17, it said.
On Friday, after hearing the argument presented by the petitioners’ lawyer, the Government of India represented by assistant solicitor general, Rakesh Thapliyal sought more time for filing its reply, a request which was rejected by the court.