Supreme Court notice over sacking of governors

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice and a sought response from the BJP-led government on the issue of sacking of UPA-appointed governors of Uttarakhand and Puducherry in 2014 when it came to power, terming it as “a serious matter”.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur, which was hearing a petition filed by Aziz Qureshi and Virendra Kataria, former governors of Uttarakhand and Puducherry, respectively, sought a response from the Centre within four weeks and posted the matter on March 28.

Mr Qureshi, who was eased out as governor soon after the Narendra Modi government came to power in May 2014, had alleged that then home secretary had threatened him to resign from the post or face removal. Mr Kataria, a former Congress leader, was also sacked as governor in July 2014.

During the hearing, the bench, also comprising Justices F.M.I. Kalifulla, A.K. Sikri, S.A. Bobde and R. Banumathi, observed that “it is a serious matter”.

“We may also have to lay down a format in which communication with such high constitutional dignitaries takes place,” the bench observed.

A-G Mukul Rohatgi, represented the Centre, while senior advocate and Congress leader Vivek Tankha was appearing for the two governors. The bench noted that while a call was made to Mr Qureshi by then home secretary Anil Goswami, in the case of Mr Kataria, it was the home secretary’s private secretary who had rung up the governor.

A notice was also issued to Mr Goswami. The apex court had on August 21, 2014, had referred the matter of Mr Qureshi to a five-judge Constitution bench observing that the interpretation of Article 156 (Term of office of Governor) was involved.