Karnataka: SC refuses to urgently list independents' plea for floor test

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to urgently list a plea of two independent Karnataka MLAs seeking holding of the floor test forthwith, but said it may consider listing of the petition on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Karnataka Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar summoned the 15 rebel MLAs, who had submitted their resignations, to appear before him by 11am on Tuesday.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said, "Impossible. We have never done this before. Tomorrow we may see to it." The bench's remarks came when senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi—appearing for the two legislators, R. Shankar and H. Nagesh—said he has filed a new petition in the Karnataka matter and seeks its urgent listing.

Rohatgi said the floor test is being delayed on one pretext or the other. He said when the Congress-JD(S) coalition can take orders for holding of floor test earlier, then the same order can be issued now.

To this, the Supreme Court bench said, "We will see tomorrow."

The two MLAs, who withdrew support to the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka, moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction for conducting a floor test forthwith in the state Assembly.

They said that the state has plunged into a political crisis after they withdrew their support to the government and 16 lawmakers of the ruling coalition tendered their resignations.

Meanwhile, the speaker's summons to the 15 MLAs come amid requests from the Congress and JD(S) to disqualify the legislators. The summons from the speaker to the MLAs has been interpreted as being a sign a floor test may not take place on Monday. The floor test has been delayed despite two 'deadlines' from Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala to conclude it by Friday.

(With PTI inputs)