President's Rule to continue in Uttarakhand as SC stays floor test in state Assembly

New Delhi: In a major relief to the Centre, the Supreme Court on Wednesday put a hold on the Uttarakhand Assembly floor test, which was scheduled to take place on April 29. 

The stay on floor test will continue till next order on the issue, the apex court ruled today. The apex court also fixed May 3 as the date for next hearing on the case. The SC ruling implies that the state will continue to remain under the President's Rule till then.

"SC has fixed the date, so we will have to abide by that," former CM Harish Rawat said after Supreme Court's observations.

Earlier in the day, the apex court framed seven questions for Centre regarding the imposition of the President's Rule in Uttarakhand. 

While hearing the Centre's petition challenging the Uttarakhand High Court's ruling, which set aside the President's Rule in the state, the apex court also said that Chief Secretary has nothing to do with the present case. 

Seven questions asked by SC: 

The court asked, "whether Governor could have sent message in present manner under Article175 (2) to conduct floor test."

"Whether disqualification of MLAs by the speaker is a relevant issue for the purpose of imposing President's rule under Article 356"

"Proceeding in the #Uttarakhand Assembly can be taken note by the President for imposing President's rule"

"What is the stage of appropriation bill & when President rule comes in the picture with regards to Appropriation bill?"

"Can a delay in the floor test be ground for proclamation of President rule in state?"

"Convention is money bill failed, Govt goes but who is to say money bill hasn't been passed if Speaker doesn't say so?"

"Whether Governor can ask Speaker for division of votes as both are constitutional authorities?"

Following the Uttarakhand High Court's ruling which set aside the President's rule in the state, the Centre has approached the Supreme Court last week.