Guwahati: Arunachal Governor (now ex-Governor) J P Rajkhowa has been on a loose ground since July 13, the day Supreme Court in a historic ruling restored the Congress government led by Nabam Tuki declaring the Governor J P Rajkhowa’s actions `illegal’ and `violative’ of the Constitution.
It was for the first time, the apex court gave a ruling to reinstate a dismissed government even after formation of a new government.
The verdict raised question about the BJP’s role precipitating a crisis in the frontier hill state as it had supported the formation of a government led by rebel Congress leader Kalikho Pul.
Following is the sequence of events that unfolded in Arunachal Pradesh :
The crisis began on December 9, 2015 when a group of rebel Congress MLAs approached Governor JP Rajkhowa seeking to impeach Speaker Nabam Rebia. The MLAs complained that the Speaker was out to disqualify them from the Assembly. The Governor agreed and called for an emergency session of the Assembly on December 16 to facilitate the impeachment motion.
In the special session which was attended by 20 rebel Congress MLAs, 11 BJP MLAs and 2 Independents at a community hall, the impeachment motion was passed and Kalikho Pul was ‘elected’ as the Leader of the House.
The same day, the Speaker disqualified 14 Congress MLAs.
The ruling Congress protested the Governor’s action, but the Centre chose to impose President’s Rule in the state.
On January 5, 2016 , the Gauhati High Court stayed the disqualification of the Congress MLAs and the Speaker’s plea was turned down.
On January 15, 2016, the Supreme Court referred the entire batch of petitions filed by the Speaker to a Constitution bench, which was examining the discretionary powers of the Governor.
On January 29, 2016 , deposed CM Nabam Tuki filed a fresh petition in the Supreme Court challenging the imposition of Presidents Rule in the state.
On January 30, 2016, The Centre justified the imposition of President’s Rule in the state citing complete breakdown of law and order. It also said the Congress government was reduced to a minority in the state.
On February 4, 2016 , the Supreme Court, examining the powers of Governors, took strong note of a submission that all decisions of the Governor were not open to judicial review and said it could not remain be a mute spectator when democratic processes are “slaughtered”.
On February 10, 2016 , the apex court rejected the pleas of the rebel Congress MLAs against the Speaker.
On February 19, 2016, the President’s Rule was lifted in the state.
On February 20, 2016, the dissident Congress leader Kalikho Pul was sworn in as the ninth Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh with the support of 18 rebel Congress MLAs, and two Independents and 11 BJP MLAs. Pul’s swearing-in took place a day after the apex court vacated its interim order to maintain status quo in the Arunachal Pradesh assembly, paving the way for government formation.
On February 23, 2016 , the Supreme Court observed that it was empowered to act if there were constitutional violations in the manner in which the Arunachal Pradesh Governor issued orders that had eventually led to formation of a new government in the state.
On February 25, 2016 Pul won the vote of confidence without any opposition on the first day of the state assembly session, with 17 Congress MLAs including former chief minister Nabam Tuki remaining absent from the House.
On March 3, 2016, thirty (30) rebel Congress MLAs who sided with CM Pul merged with People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA), thereby depriving Congress of a scope to take any legal action against them.
On July 13, 2016, the Supreme Court delivered the historic judgment turning the clock back and restored the Congress government in the state terming the Governor’s action ‘illegal’.
