Uttarakhand floor test: SC orders Principal Secretary to act as observer

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday clarified that the voting during Tuesday’s floor test in Uttarakhand Assembly on the trust vote motion moved by sacked chief minister Harish Rawat will be overseen by Principal Secretary (Legislative Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs) in the state.

A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh allowed the Centre’s plea to modify the May 6 order in which the designation of the officer was stated as Principal Secretary (Legislative Assembly).

The Centre had moved an application saying the officials concerned have written a letter to the Chief Secretary stating there is no Principal Secretary (Legislative Assembly) designation in the state and they can only act when a clarification is issued by the apex court.

Congress had opposed the plea, saying that allowing Principal Secretary (Legislative Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs) would amount to the participation of an outsider in the Assembly.

The party had submitted that the Secretary (Legislative Assembly) who is under the supervision of the Speaker should be allowed to oversee the floor test.

However, the apex court rejected the contention and said that the purpose of entrusting the job to an official was to maintain the neutrality in the House.

The bench further said the floor test in the House will go ahead tomorrow in accordance with the May 6 order.

The Supreme Court will pass at 4 pm on Monday its interim order on the plea of nine rebel Congress MLAs seeking permission to participate in the floor test.