Supreme Court Quashes Governor’s Powers, Restores Nabam Tuki As Arunachal Chief Minister 

In a huge setback for the Narendra Modi government and a major victory for the Congress, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the restoration of ousted Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki as it quashed the decision of Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa preponing the state assembly session in December 2015.

In a unanimous judgement, a constitution bench headed by Justice J.S. Khehar directed the restoration of the status quo as it existed on December 15, 2015, directed the manner in which the assembly proceedings had to be conducted and set aside all the steps and decisions the house had taken, describing them as unsustainable.

Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Madan B. Lokur pronounced concurring judgements giving their additional reasons to agree with Justice Khehar.

Arunachal Pradesh was put under President’s Rule on January 26 which was lifted on February and rebel-Congress leader Kalikho Pul was sworn-in as the new chief minister.

The top court quashed all the petitions dealing with discretionary powers of the Governor to summon or advance assembly sessions in the state and ordered him to restore status quo as of December 15, 2015 in Arunachal.

According to the court’s ruling, all decisions taken by the Arunachal Assembly after 9 December will be rendered unsustainable.

Congress leaders hailed the verdict and attacked the BJP for trying to ‘trample democracy and constitution’.

“Supreme Court re-writes history. Democracy wins with a thumping majority, Modi’s politics of defections & conspiracy fails miserably,” said Congress Leader Randeep Surjewala in a series of tweets.

He also demanded that the Arunachal governor be scaked for “ impropriety and diservice to constitution”.