In a major setback to Nagaland Chief Minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu, the Gauhati High Court on Tuesday dismissed his plea to stay Governor PB Acharya's directive for floor test.

Kohima: In a major setback to Nagaland Chief Minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu, the Gauhati High Court on Tuesday dismissed his plea to stay Governor PB Acharya's directive for floor test.

The court left the matter to the discretion of the governor, who had asked Liezietsu to seek the trust vote in view of the turbulence within the ruling NPF.

Justice LS Jamir of the Kohima bench of the high court had heard the argument in the case on Monday and delivered his verdict on Tuesday.

Acharya had on 11 July and 13 July directed Liezietsu to seek vote of confidence by 15 July after former chief minister TR Zeliang staked claim saying he had the majority support in the House.

Liezietsu, who is facing rebellion by 43 Naga Peoples Front MLAs led by Zeliang demanding change of leadership in the present house of 59, had filed the petition on 14 July seeking a stay on the governor's directive.

The court had issued an interim order stalling the governor's directive till Monday so that the matter could be taken up for hearing.

After the hearing, Justice Jamir on Tuesday dismissed Liezietsu's petition and also vacated the 14 July interim order.

“This court is of the considered opinion that the governor had taken the right decision to ask the petitioner (Liezietsu) to have a vote of confidence at the floor of the House to see which out of the two contesting claimants of the chief ministership has a majority in the House,” the court observed.

It also maintained that it has no reasons to interfere with the governor’s letter to the chief minister on the matter. Dismissing the petition, the court said, “The matter is left to the wisdom of the governor to take a decision on the same after proper application of mind."

The court further stated that there was no merit in the writ petition filed by Shurhozelie Liezietsu and it was, accordingly, dismissed.

Liezietsu will face the trust vote on Wednesday at a special session of the Assembly as directed by the governor.