Uttarakhand High Court: Centre told to respond Tuesday

The Centre gave an undertaking in the Uttarakhand high court Thursday that it will come to it before any move to lift the President’s Rule in the state after the Congress stronly pitched for the first right to form the government. The high court has granted the Centre time till April 12 to file a rejoinder to the Congress challenge on the appropriations ordinance and validity of President’s Rule.

Harish Rawat sends memo to Governor on government formation Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat has filed an interim plea in which it was feared Central rule may be lifted to enable the installation of a BJP-led government in the state.

Mr Rawat also sent a memorandum to governor K.K. Paul on Wednesday requesting him that if President’s Rule comes to an end and the prospects for government formation emerge, he should be the first to be invited to form a government as he had the numbers.

The ousted Uttarakhand chief minister also sought a direction from the court to the governor that he should be asked to form the government first if any decision to revoke President’s Rule is taken by the Centre during the pendency of his main petition.

The ousted chief minister also apprehended that the Centre, with the “connivance” of the state BJP, may revoke President’s Rule during the pendency of the case and deny him the “rightful opportunity” to form the government, and make his petition infructuous.