Speak in sync, SC tells SG, ASG

Quizzing Additional Solicitor-General Gopal Subramanium, Justice Pasayat asked whether ‘‘the Governor can prevent a party or group from staking claim to form government if a majority was cobbled by illegal means’’. ‘‘Yes’’ came the ASG’s answer. The Governor, he said, was well within his rights to do so.

Justice Sabharwal pointed out that Solicitor-General G E Vahanvati, speaking on the matter a week ago, had taken a contradictory view. Vahanvati, he recalled, had said that ‘‘in case a majority was put before the Governor, he would be left with no option but to allow them to form government”.