Nabam Tuki welcomes Supreme Court verdict on Arunachal Pradesh

Tuki, who is presently camping in the national capital, told PTI over phone that he has full faith in the judiciary.

"I have full faith in the judiciary and would act as per the constitutional provisions," Tuki said, adding as per the court's verdict, the decision of former Governor to prepone the Assembly session was 'unconstitutional' and the status of his government would remain unchanged.

Hailing the apex court's verdict, Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Padi Richo said, "It was the victory of the Constitution and the people".

The apex court in its order said Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa's decision advancing the state Assembly session by a month is violative of the Constitution and liable to be quashed. All the five judges of the Supreme Court bench were unanimous in setting aside the Governor's orders.

The verdict restores the political status quo in the northeastern state as of December 15, 2015. The bench headed by Justice J S Khehar said the 'clock should be turned back' in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Congress government led by Tuki was dismissed after 21 MLAs rebelled against him. The leader of the dissident faction, Kalikho Pul, was sworn in as Chief Minister on February 19 with the support of Congress rebels and 11 BJP lawmakers.

Chief Minister Kalikho Pul was away at Guwahati in Assam to attend the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) meeting and was not immediately available for comment.

Following is the sequence of events that led the then Speaker Nabam Redia to approach the Supreme Court:

December 9, 2015: Governor J P Rajkhowa fixed the resolution removing the Speaker from the office as the first item of business in the advanced Assembly session, which was held on December 16.

December 15, 2015: Speaker disqualifies 14 MLAs of the ruling Congress.

December 16, 2015: Deputy Speaker Tenzing Norbu Thongdok orders the removal of the Speaker, pursuant to the resolution adopted by the Assembly, held outside the Assembly hall.

On December 16 last year a special session of the assembly was held in a make-shift venue as the government and Speaker prevented the session from being held in the assembly.

Deputy Speaker T N Thongdok presided over the special session that was attended by 20 rebel Congress MLAs (of the total 42), 11 BJP MLAs and two Independents.

The rebels, along with the 13 others, passed the impeachment motion. The special session also moved a no-confidence motion against Tuki. At the end of the session, Tuki was 'defeated' in a floor test and the 'House' elected Kalikho Pul as the new leader of the House.

December 17, 2015: Speaker Rebia moves High Court.

January 5, 2016: Justice B K Sarma of the Gauhati High Court stayed the disqualification of 14 Congress MLAs. The Speaker's plea for his case to be heard in another court was turned down, prompting him to approach the Supreme Court.