Uttarakhand crisis - No floor test tomorrow, says HC

Bengaluru, March 30: The Uttarakhand High Court has stayed the floor test in the assembly scheduled for tomorrow.

The Union Government had challenged the verdict of the High Court which had ordered the floor test to be held on March 31.

The Division Bench of the High Court directed the Centre and the Congress to file affidavits during the next date of hearing.

Earlier during the day, the Union Government represented by the Attorney General of India, Mukul Rohtagi had sought a stay for three days on the verdict which had ordered the floor test.

During the course of the hearing, Rohtagi argued that Uttarakhand was under President's rule and there was no government. How can a trust vote be held in an empty building, Rohtagi had also argued.

The assembly building is empty and hence the question of a trust vote does not arise, the AG also argued. When a state is under President's rule no trust vote can be held, it was further contended.

After President's Rule was imposed the Congress challenged the decision before the High Court. While ordering the floor test, the court had said that the floor of the house is the right arena to prove the strength of the government.