SC allows K’taka MLAs to withdraw their petition

SC allows K'taka MLAs to withdraw their petition

Supreme Court on Thursday allowed two independent Karnataka MLAs to withdraw their petition on trust vote in Karnataka but slammed senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi for being absent in the court despite being asked by it to be present on Thursday.

A bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, allowed the plea of the two independent Karnataka MLAs — R Shankar and H Ganesh — to withdrew their petition.

“We allow the plea of two petitioners (independent Karnataka MLAs) to withdraw their petition in the case,” the top court bench said.

The SC also expressed its displeasure and anguish over senior advocates making them unavailable when it comes to withdrawal of the petitions. The court made these observations after seeing that  Rohatgi was absent on Thursday as well.

The two independent Karnataka MLAs — Ganesh and Mahesh — had earlier knocked the doors of the apex court seeking a direction to the Speaker, to conduct a floor test as soon as possible.

They withdrew their petition after Kumarawamy lost the floor trust and subsequently resigned from his post.