Karnataka Crisis: Petition in Supreme Court seeking Floor Test likely to be listed tomorrow

The fresh writ petition in the Supreme Court filed by two Karnataka MLAs seeking a floor test to be held in the Karnataka Assembly was mentioned today before Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi..Appearing for the petitioners, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi said that the prayer is to hold the floor test today itself, and that the case should be listed today at the end of the board..CJI Gogoi made it clear that the case will not be listed today. Rohatgi then requested that matter be listed tomorrow. In reply, the CJI said,.“We will see.”.The petition has been filed by R Shankar and H Nagesh. Shankar belongs to the KPJP Political party and represents the Ranebennuru constituency, while Nagesh is an independent MLA representing Mulabagilu constituency..The petitioners, who were supporting the ruling coalition government in Karnataka, have stated that they have withdrawn their support to the government. They have contended that the trust vote is not being conducted despite the government being in minority and that a government which does not have the confidence of the majority is being allowed to continue in office..The petitioners submit that despite the Governor’s directions to hold a floor test, the same was not complied with and the House has now been adjourned till Monday..The petitioners have also alleged that taking advantage of the logjam, the minority government has taken several executive decisions like transferring police officers, IAS officers etc..The petition also alleges that Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy may rake up an emergent situation and use medical emergencies to delay the trust vote..The petitioners have therefore sought a direction to hold a floor test in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on or before 5 pm on July 22..Last week, the Supreme Court directed the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly to decide on the resignations of the rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs within an “appropriate time frame”. However, the Court refrained from laying down any particular time frame..It also ordered that the 15 MLAs cannot be compelled to participate in the proceedings of the House.