Breaking: SC refuses to stay swearing in of BS Yeddyurappa as Karnataka CM, asks for letters to Governor

After a three-and-a-half hour hearing that began at 2 AM, the Supreme Court in the wee hours of this morning refused to stay the swearing in of BS Yeddyurappa as Chief Minister of Karnataka..However, the Court has made it clear that the swearing in will be subject to the outcome of the petition filed by Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) leaders late last night..Further, the Court has directed Yeddyurappa to produce the letters informing Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala of his party’s majority in the state..The order was rendered by a Bench of Justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde and Ashok Bhushan at around 5:30 am today. The Bench had heard extensive arguments made by Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi for the petitioners, and Attorney General KK Venugopal and Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Centre and Yeddyurappa respectively..Hours after Governor Vala’s letter to Yeddyurappa inviting him to form the government in Karnataka became public, the opposition parties made a rush to the Supreme Court. Registry officials and subsequently Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra were awoken in light of the urgency of the plea; Yeddyurappa’s swearing in as Chief Minister was scheduled to take place at 9 AM on Thursday, May 17..However, despite the best efforts of Singhvi, the Court refused to set aside, let alone stay the order of the Governor. Regardless of this fact, the issue seems to be far from resolved. Yeddyurappa is required to produce on the next date of hearing on Friday, the letter submitted to the Governor, which will reveal where things stand..Read a detailed account of what happened in the Supreme Court here..Read the order passed by the court.