The Supreme Court on Wednesday fixed February 21 for hearing a writ petition filed by the former Goa [Images] chief minister Manohar Parrikar [Images] challenging Governor S C Jamir's decision dismissing his government.

A three-judge bench said the hearing was postponed because the chief justice of India, who the bench said is the only person who can hear cases pertaining to important persons, is currently on leave.

When the petition questioning the constitutional validity of the governor's February 2 decision to dismiss the Parrikar government was mentioned by the former attorney general Soli J Sorabjee, the bench, headed by Justice N Santosh Hegde, said it would have to be listed for hearing before a bench headed by the CJI.

When Sorabjee wanted to know why such an 'important' petition could not be heard by a three-judge Bench, Justice Hegde said it was a rule made by the registry.

After repeated requests, the Bench posted the petition seeking a stay on the functioning of the Pratapsingh Rane government for hearing on February 21 instead of February 25.

On February 2, the Parrikar government was dismissed just hours after it won a controversial confidence vote in the assembly.

Jamir had justified Parrikar government's dismissal saying Speaker Vishwas Satarkar's actions during the trial of strength in the assembly were in 'blatant violation' of democratic norms and the Constitution.

An independent member of the House was disqualified by Satarkar just hours before the motion of confidence was put to vote. Amidst the pandemonium that followed, the speaker declared the government had won the vote.

Also read:
Parrikar government wins confidence vote
Parrikar government dismissed