SC to resume hearing on Centre's plea challenging Uttarakhand HC order today

Supreme Court will hear today the Centre's petition challenging Nainital High Court order quashing imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand. Hearing the Centre's plea on 27th of last month, the Apex Court had directed to continue the President's rule for the while.

Posting the matter for further hearing today, it had extended the stay on High Court's order quashing the central rule in the Hill state. The two-judge division bench had also asked several questions to the Centre asking it to justify imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand.

The Centre had introduced President's Rule on 27th March, one day before Chief Minister Harish Rawat was to take a trust vote in the assembly.

CBI to grill former Air Force chief SP Tyagi again today in Agusta deal. CBI will again question today former Air Force chief SP Tyagi in connection with alleged corruption of AgustaWestland VVIP chopper



deal. 

It questioned Mr. Tyagi yesterday on the allegation against him. The allegation was that he had reduced flying ceiling of the helicopter from 6 thousand metres to 4 thousand 5 hundred metres to include AgustaWestland in the bids.

However, this decision was reportedly taken in consultation with the officials of SPG and the Prime Minister’s Office including then National Security Advisor M K Narayanan. 

CBI has alleged that the reduction of the service ceiling, maximum height at which a helicopter can perform normally, allowed the UK-based firm to get into the fray as otherwise its helicopters were not even qualified for submission of bids. 

Tyagi has denied allegations against him and claimed that the decision to reduce the ceiling was taken by a group of senior officials. The agency had quizzed former IAF Deputy Chief J S Gujral on Saturday in the case.