Koshyari contended in his plea that he is the sitting Governor of Maharashtra and referred to Article 361 of the Constitution which provides protection to President and Governors from invoking any such proceedings. (Express File)THE SUPREME Court on Tuesday stayed contempt proceedings initiated against Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari by the Uttarakhand High Court for alleged non-compliance of its order asking former chief ministers to pay market rent and other dues for government facilities availed by them after vacating office.
The appeal filed by Koshyari, who is also the Governor of Goa, against the showcause notice issued by the High Court on a petition seeking contempt proceedings against him came up for hearing before a bench headed by Justice R F Nariman. “Issue notice on the special leave petitions as well as on the prayer for interim relief… Contempt proceedings stayed in the meanwhile,” the bench ordered.
In May 2019, the High Court had directed the former CMs who occupied government accommodation to pay rent at market rates for the period they occupied such premises after leaving office. It asked the state to compute the amount due on electricity, water, petrol, oil and lubricants provided by the state to them within four months and ordered the former CMs to pay within six months of the amount being intimated.