New Delhi, Jan. 28: Slaughter of a mithun, an animal that resembles a buffalo, outside Raj Bhavan and the traffic jam this caused are among the reasons cited by the Arunachal Pradesh governor in the Supreme Court to justify imposition of President's rule in the border state.
Six reports justifying the recommendation of central rule were today placed in court in a sealed cover by the governor's counsel Satyapal Jain. The court had yesterday asked for the documents.
Jain, when contacted, refused to share details of the reports submitted and only said the governor would file a separate reply tomorrow to the writ petition challenging imposition of President's rule.
A five-judge Constitution bench of Justices J.S. Khehar, Dipak Misra, Madan B. Lokur, P.C. Ghose and N.V. Ramana will take up the matter at 2pm on Monday.
However, sources said governor J.P. Rajkhowa had submitted that on December 17 a mithun was slaughtered in front of the Raj Bhavan after Gauhati High Court passed interim orders in favour of the Congress in the disqualification row. The slaughter resulted in large spillage of blood and caused severe traffic jams, triggering tension and law and order problems.
The reports said the Raj Bhavan was under virtual siege by Congress leaders and workers who held road blockades and dharnas after Rajkhowa advanced the Assembly session for the floor test from January 14 to December 16, the sources added.
The governor also cited blockade of the Itanagar helipad in defence of the recommendation to impose central rule.
Rajkhowa was attacked by Congress workers on December 14, it has been alleged in one report, the sources said.
He first sent a report to the President on January 15, expressing concern over the "deteriorating" law and order, the sources said. On January 19, he had sent another report recommending President's rule.
It was at this time that the disqualification row was being heard by the bench. Rajkhowa's counsel, Harish Salve, had assured the court that "no precipitate action" would be taken during the hearing.
