Monday, February 21 2005 12:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today (Feb 21, 2005) issued notices to Goa Chief Minister Pratap Singh Rane and Goa Government on a petition filed by former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar challenging the Governor's decision to dismiss the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice R C Lahoti posted hearing on the petition to February 28.

When counsel Soli J Sorabjee sought a stay on the Government from taking any major policy decisions, the court said any action taken by the Rane Government could be brought to its notice on February 28.

The court also issued notices on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the February 2 decision of Goa Governor S C Jamir to dismiss the BJP Government headed by Parrikar.

Sorabjee termed the Governor's decision as "patently illegal" and said Jamir had dismissed the BJP Government even before the Speaker's report detailing the proceedings of the house reached him.

He said that the trust motion had not been challenged in any court of law and hence it still stands as valid order.

He also accused the Governor of "partisan behaviour" saying that while Parrikar was given 48 hours to prove majority in the house, no such time limit was fixed for the Rane Government.