SC restores Nabam Tuki Government in Arunachal Pradesh

New Delhi: In a major set back to the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Supreme Court on Wednesday restored the Nabam Tuki government in Arunacahal Pradesh declaring the governor’s decision to remove the Speaker of Assembly as illegal.

The order of the governor to conduct Assembly session and to remove the Speaker and Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh was unconstitutional, said the Supreme Court. “The clock should be turned back,” Justice K S Khekhar said.

The decision was passed by the constitutional bench of five-judge unanimously.

The Arunachal Pradesh governor had on December 15 last removed the Speaker and Chief Minister of the northeastern state. The then speaker Nabam Rebia had filed a plea in the Apex court and argued that the decision of the governor was ‘politically motivated’ and he was acting on the behest of the Centre.

The Centre in its support to the governor’s decision said the President’s rule was imposed in the state only after complete failure of law and order.

Here is the timeline:

• December 9: Governor fixed the resolution to remove the Speaker from the office.
• December 15: Speaker Nabam Rebia disqualified 14 MLAs of the Congress.
• December 16: Tenzing Norbu Thongdok, the deputy speaker ordered to remove Nebia in pursuant of the resolution adopted by the Assembly.
• December 17: Nabam Rebia moved High Court.

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