The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to Goa Chief Minister Pratap Singh Rane and his government on a petition filed by former CM Manohar Parrikar challenging the governor's decision to dismiss the Bharatiya Janata Party government.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice R C Lahoti posted the matter for hearing to February 28.
When Parrikar's counsel Soli J Sorabjee sought a stay on the government from taking any major policy decisions, the court said any decision could be brought to its notice on February 28.
The court also issued notices on a public interest litigation challenging the February 2 decision of Governor S C Jamir to dismiss the government.
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 the speaker's report and the order declaring the Parrikar government winning the trust motion had not been challenged in any court of law and hence it still stood as a valid order.
He also accused the governor of "partisan behaviour", saying while Parrikar was given 48 hours to prove majority in the House, no such time limit was fixed for the Rane government.
With inputs from the Press Trust of India
More from rediff