In what can be seen as a breather for Congress-JD(S) Coalition Government of Karnataka, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asserted that the Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar cannot be forced to take a call within a time frame on the resignation of the rebel MLAs.
The Top Court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose further said, ‘Karnataka MLAs not compelled to participate in the trust vote tomorrow.”
Supreme Court says, "Karnataka MLAs not compelled to participate in the trust vote tomorrow." https://t.co/qSfPf8oQ2x
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2019
Speaking on the verdict, Mukul Rohatgi, Senior Advocate representing the rebels said, ‘In view of Trust Vote kept for tomorrow, SC has said two important things- 15 MLAs will not be compelled to attend the House tomorrow. All 15 MLAs are given the liberty that may or may not go to the House tomorrow’.
He added, ‘he three-line whip issued against them (rebel MLAs) to attend the House tomorrow is not operative in view of the SC judgment. Secondly, the Speaker has been given time to decide on the resignations as and when he wants to decide.’
Mukul Rohatgi: The three-line whip issued against them (rebel MLAs) to attend the House tomorrow is not operative in view of the SC judgement. Secondly, the Speaker has been given time to decide on the resignations as and when he wants to decide. https://t.co/VPvyWDgxzM
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2019
In the meantime, Karnataka Former CM and BJP State President BS Yeddyurappa asserted confidence that the coalition government will not last anymore. ‘Certainly the Government will not last because they do not have the numbers’, said BS Yeddyurappa.
He added that, ‘Karnataka CM has lost his mandate, when there is no majority he must resign tomorrow. I welcome SC’s decision, it’s the victory of constitution&democracy, a moral victory for rebel MLAs. It’s only an interim order, SC will decide powers of Speaker in future’.
BS Yeddyurappa, BJP: Karnataka CM has lost his mandate, when there is no majority he must resign tomorrow. I welcome SC's decision, it's the victory of constitution&democracy, a moral victory for rebel MLAs. It's only an interim order, SC will decide powers of Speaker in future. pic.twitter.com/LAPOFsHDK8
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2019
Following the SC Verdict, Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar said that he will take a decision that in no way will go contrary to the Constitution, the Court and the Lokpal.
Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar: I will take a decision that in no way will go contrary to the Constitution, the Court and the Lokpal. pic.twitter.com/p0QcgBJkPB
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2019
It should be noted that the Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday announced that he will prove his majority in the State Assembly. Chief Minister has asked the Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar to fix a time saying that he would seek a floor test.
Earlier, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered Assembly Speaker to maintain status quo in connection with the resignation of 10 rebel MLAs of Congress and JD-S who tendered their resignation on Thursday. The Top Court Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that the Court will hear the matter again on Tuesday, July 16.
The 13-months old coalition government suffered a huge setback on Saturday last week when 11 MLAs from Congress–JD(S) ruling coalition tendered their resignation. And thereafter political episode and drama started in Karnataka. Later on, many other MLAs also tendered their resignation taking the tally to over 15 till now.
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