Bangalore: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday reserved its order on petitions filed by 11 rebel BJP MLAs challenging their disqualification from the state Assembly.by Speaker K G Bopaiah.
The 11 rebel BJP MLAs on Wednesday told the HC that the Speaker's action was not in accordance with the anti-defection law and that the Speaker acted before ascertaining the material on record first. The rebel BJP MLAs are also likely to hold protests on Thursday.
A single judge bench of VG Sabhahit started hearing the case on Wednesday after Chief Justice JS Khehar and another judge N Kumar on Monday differed on the issue.
Khehar upheld state assembly Speaker KG Bopaiah's decision to disqualify the 11 legislators after they told Governor HR Bhardwaj that they have lost confidence in Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa.
Kumar quashed Bopaiah's order.
Following the split verdict, Khehar decided to refer the issue to a single judge of the court and named Sabhahit to hear the case.
The appeal of five Independent legislators, who were also disqualified along with the 11 BJP lawmakers, will come up before a two-judge bench on November 2.
The 16 were disqualified by the speaker invoking the anti-defection law of 1985 just ahead of a trust vote in the assembly October 11. Yeddyurappa won the vote amid chaos and unruly scenes and a dissatisfied Bhardwaj told him to seek a second trust vote October 14.
Yeddyurappa won that test by 106 votes to 100 in the 225-member assembly whose strength was reduced to 209 following the disqualification of the 16 legislators.
Khehar and Kumar had ruled that the trust vote outcome was subject to their decision on the appeal of the 16 lawmakers against their disqualification.
The revolt against Yeddyurappa, the second after he took over as BJP's first chief minister in Karnataka in May 2008, was sparked by dissatisfaction over denial of cabinet berth to many BJP aspirants.
The Independents joined their ranks as one of them had been dropped from the ministry recently and the four others feared losing their posts.
The five independents were rewarded with ministry as they helped BJP to form the government in May 2008 as it had fallen short of majority. The party had won only 110 seats in the 225-strong house, including one nominated member.
(With inputs from IANS)
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