Political crisis: Supreme Court orders status quo in Arunachal Pradesh

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered status quo in Arunachal Pradesh till it peruses records pertaining to disqualification of 14 rebel Congress MLAs by the Speaker.

The apex court also asked the Secretary General of Arunachal Pradesh Assembly and the Guwahati High Court to furnish records on disqualification of the MLAs by tomorrow.

The Supreme Court had earlier questioned Governor J.P. Rajkhowa`s use of his "constitutional discretion" to advance the sixth session of the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly by over a month, asking whether it was backed by sound constitutional principles or based on a mere whim.

Advancing the session from its scheduled date of January 14, 2016 to December 16, 2015 in order to remove Speaker Nebam Rebia triggered the entire political crisis leading to the imposition of President`s Rule on January 26.

The apex court bench`s questions pertained to the order issued by Rajkhowa on December 9, 2015 to advance the Assembly session without consulting Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and his Council of Ministers under Article 174 (1) of the Constitution.