J& K Assembly: SC refuses to meddle

◗ BJP leader Gagan Bhagat had challenged the governor’s dicision to dissolve the Assembly

New Delhi, Dec. 10: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a PIL challenging the dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly by Governor Satya Pal Malik.

“We are not inclined to interfere ( with the decision of the Governor),” a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul said.

The bench was hearing a PIL filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Gagan Bhagat, who was an MLA before the Assembly was dissolved.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, which was in suspended animation, was abruptly dissolved by the governor on November 21, hours after the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) staked claim to form a government with the backing of rival National Conference and the Congress.

This was followed by another bid from the twomember People’s Conference, which claimed the support of the BJP and 18 legislators from other parties.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti wrote to the governor that her party, which has 29 MLAs, was backed by the National Conference and the Congress with 15 and 12 legislators, respectively.

he dissolution was announced by Mr Malik in a communique released by the Raj Bhavan. The six- month tenure of governor’s rule ends on December 18. This will be followed by the President’s rule.

The state assembly’s tenure was till October 2020.

Governor’s rule was clamped in Jammu and Kashmir on June 19 for a six- months period following the collapse of the Mehbooba Mufti- headed PDP- BJP coalition government after the BJP withdrew support.