The Uttarakhand High Court today deferred till the 18th of this month the hearing on a batch of petitions relating to the ongoing political crisis in the state.<br/><br/>The decision came after nine disqualified rebel Congress MLAs sought adjournment on the ground that their counsel was not available.<br/><br/>The bench comprising Chief Justice K M Joseph and Justice V K Bist made strong comments on the plea of the rebel MLAs, telling them that it was made clear yesterday itself that the hearing would take place. <br/><br/>Rebel Congress MLAs had sought permission to intervene as a party in the ongoing matter and had challenged their disqualification by the Speaker.<br/><br/>The court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by the Central government, former Chief Minister Harish Rawat and others on issues like imposition of President's rule and disqualification of the rebel congress MLAs among others. <br/><br/>The court had earlier kept in abeyance the direction of the single judge bench that floor test be held.