Karnataka crisis: SC says rebel MLAs not to be compelled to take part in Assembly proceedings, Speaker free to decide on resignations as per his time-frame

In a big development amid the political crisis in Karnataka, the Supreme Court on Wednesday has announced the verdict in the rebel MLA vs the Assembly Speaker matter, saying that the rebel MLAs cannot be compelled to participate in a floor test or in the assembly session and that the Speaker is free to decide on their resignations in a time-frame decided by him. 

Announcing the judgement in the case, an SC bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also said that the Speaker cannot be forced to take a decision within a time frame, allowing KR Ramesh Kumar to decide on the resignations of the 15 Congress-JD(S) MLAs as he wishes. The SC has asked to decide on the resignation of the 15 MLAs within an appropriate time frame, maintaining the constitutional balance. Notably, this is an interim order and the matter could be taken up in detail at a later stage.

Welcoming the order, Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh says the Supreme Court has increased his responsibility and added that he will try to live up to the confidence shown by the top court.

The court has also asked the Speaker's decision to be put before it.

READ | Karnataka Political Crisis: Supreme Court Reserves Order In Rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs Vs Speaker Case, To Pronounce Verdict On Wednesday

16 Congress-JD(S) MLAs have resigned so far, while two independent MLAs S Shankar and H Nagesh have withdrawn their support to the Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in Karnataka. The Supreme Court on Wednesday was hearing the pleas of the rebel Karnataka MLAs against Speaker Ramesh Kumar seeking fast approval on their resignations.

Speaker Ramesh Kumar welcomed the  SC's judgement, adding that he will see that there will no violation of the intents of the Court as well as the Consitution.

Speaking over the verdict outside the Supreme Court, Mukul Rohtagi, who appeared for the 15 rebel MLAs said that the MLAs will not go to the Karnataka Assembly on Thursday for the Trust Vote since the top court has given a relief to them. 

"The main matter is tomorrow. If the Speaker rejects the resignations, even then when it comes to the Trust Vote, the SC has given the relief to the 15 MLAs over their attendance in the assembly. So these 15 MLAs will not go tomorrow. So you can see the result yourself."

READ | Congress' Siddaramaiah Confirms Karnataka Assembly Floor Test On Thursday, Says 'it's A Number Game' Expressing Confidence Over Majority