The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Centre and the Sikkim government on a plea seeking quashing of the appointment of Prem Singh Tamang as the State Chief Minister on the ground that he was not qualified to hold the office as he was convicted of misappropriation of funds as a public servant in the past.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also issued notice to Mr. Tamang. The apex court has also sought responses from the parties on a plea seeking stay on Mr. Tamang taking any major policy decision or other important governance duties as the State’s CM.

The petition by Bimal Dawari Sharma of the ousted Sikkim Democratic Front Party alleges that Mr. Tamang was a “disqualified” person and ineligible to contest election till 2024.