Karnataka saga: Lawyers reach Supreme Court at 1 am on Thursday
In an overnight hearing the Supreme Court refused to stay BS Yeddyurppa's swearing-in as Karnataka's new Chief Minister. The Congress-Janata Dal Secular combine petitioned the Supreme Court against Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, for inviting the BJP to form government, saying it has the signatures of 116 newly elected lawmakers while the BJP has only 105. Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra agreed to open the doors of the Supreme Court at around 1 am and constituted a three-judge bench to hear the petition that asked the judges to stop Mr Yeddyurappa's swearing-in scheduled to be held a few hours later. After hearing the matter for more than three hours, beginning 2.10 am, a three-judge bench, comprising justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde and Ashok Bhushan, directed that the letters sent by the BJP to the governor for forming the government be placed before it. The top court issued notices to Karnataka and the Centre.
"JD(S) and Congress outweigh the BJP. In a situation like this, on what basis has Mr Yeddyurappa claimed he has the numbers...Arithmetic defies the way he was invited."
"We don't even have the letter the other party (BJP) has written to the Governor. How can we decide?"
"You mean before swearing-in MLAs (lawmakers) can switch sides? How, in a case like this, you (BJP) will have more numbers whereas the other side (Congress-JDU) has given signatures of 116 MLAs to Governor?" (In response to Mukul Rohatgi representing BJP lawmakers)
"What's bothering us is the fluid situation."
"As far as swearing-in is concerned, we are not restraining it, but we are making it subject to the outcome of the case."
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