President’s Rule imposed in Uttarakhand

President Rule was imposed in Uttarakhand on 27 March 2016 following the approval of the recommendation of the Union Cabinet by the President Pranab Mukherjee. The Cabinet recommended president rule in the state citing a constitutional breakdown.

President signed the proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution dismissing the Congress government headed by Harish Rawat and placing the Assembly under suspended animation.

Under suspended animation, the legislative assembly though is not dissolved but the legislative power of the state is taken over by the parliament from the declaration of the president rule. An assembly remains in this state until further notice from the president.

Why Presidential Rule was imposed?
The need of presidential rule in the state arose after 9 congress legislators in leadership of former Chief Minister and leader of the rebel group Vijay Bahuguna rebelled against Harish Rawat government and pulled back their support to it. Due to this division the government lost majority in the house of 70 seats where it needs support of at least 36 legislators to run the government.

Meanwhile, under the Anti-Defection law, 1985 Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal disqualified the nine Congress MLAs whose rebellion and association with the BJP earlier this month had triggered the latest crisis.

Other causes for the decisions include

• Consideration of reports received from Governor KK Paul. The governor had described the political situation as volatile and expressed apprehensions over possible pandemonium during the scheduled trial of strength in the State Assembly on Monday.

• The release of video as part of a sting operation conducted against the Chief Minister in which he was found involved in horse trading by offering allurements like money for support.

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