Magic Number Is 112 Seats
Round-up: What Happened in the SC at Midnight
The Supreme Court on Thursday, 17 May, said it was not in favour of deferring BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa's swearing-in as Karnataka Chief Minister, even as the Congress and JD(S) continued their past-midnight legal push to stall the government formation in the state.
"As far as swearing-in is concerned, we are not restraining it, but we are making it subject to the outcome of the case," a three-judge bench, comprising justices A K Sikri, S A Bobde and Ashok Bhushan said in a rare past-midnight hearing that continued till the wee hours of Thursday.
However, before the bench was to dictate the order, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi pleaded the bench not to dictate the final order and sought to argue the matter further. During his submission he said the swearing-in could be postponed from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm on Thursday also adding that the BJP should be asked to produce the letter of support from the majority of MLAs submitted to the governor before forming the government.
The bench was of the view that a notice has to be be issued to Yeddyurappa as he has not made his appearance before the court through an advocate. However, Singhvi said Yeddyurappa has been heard in proxy through two BJP MLAs who were represented by Mukul Rohatgi at 2.11 am.
SC to Hear Plea at 10:30 AM on Friday
The Supreme Court ordered that there will no stay on the swearing-in of BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. However, the court noted, that BSY’s appointment as CM will be subjected to outcome of case. The matter is to be taken up at 10.30 am on Friday.
The apex court has issued notices to all the respondents.
It's Not Over for Cong, JD(S) As SC Resumes Hearing
With Congress representative Abhishek Singhvi persisting, the Supreme Court agrees to hear the arguments further. Rohatgi resumes his submissions.
The apex court reportedly said that if it cannot issue notice to the Karnataka Governor, it should not “injure him from swearing-in also”.