- (1.) In compliance with the order dated 17.05.2018 passed by this Court, Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, senior advocate who is appearing for respondent no.3, has produced the copies of letters dated 15.05.2018 and 16.05.2018 which were addressed by Mr. B.S. Yeddyurappa, State BJP President to the Governor of Karnataka. In the letter dated 16.05.2018 it is claimed that his party is the single largest party and has also the support of others and requisite majority. On that basis, the request was made to the Governor to invite him to form the Government.
(2.) Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, learned senior counsel who is appearing for petitioner no.1 and Mr. Kapil Sibal, learned senior counsel who is appearing for petitioner no.2 contend that the Governor could not have invited respondent no.3 to form the Government on the basis of such letters and have made brief submissions in this behalf. These are refuted by Mr. Rohatgi. In a matter like this, detailed hearing is required in order to decide as to whether action of the Governor in inviting respondent no.3 to form the Government was valid in law or not. Since it may consume substantial time and the final decision cannot be given immediately, we deem it proper that Floor Test to ascertain the majority of one or the other group is conducted immediately and without any delay. Though the Governor in his letter dated 16.05.2018 inviting respondent no.3 to form the Government has given him 15 days' time for proving the majority on the floor of the House, having regard to all the circumstances of this case, we are of the view that such a Floor Test be conducted tomorrow itself i.e. on 19.05.2018. Since the elected Members of Legislative Assembly are yet to take oath as specified in Schedule III of the Constitution and the Speaker is also yet to be elected, we are of the view that the following procedure be followed for conducting the Floor Test: A). Pro-tem Speaker shall be appointed for the aforesaid purpose immediately. B). All the elected members shall take oath tomorrow(19.05.2018) and this exercise shall be completed before 04.00 p.m. C) The Pro-tem Speaker shall conduct the Floor Test on 19.05.2018 at 04.00 P.M. in order to ascertain the majority and it shall not be by secret ballot and these proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with law. D) Adequate and sufficient security arrangements shall be made and Director General of Police, State of Karnataka will himself supervise the said arrangements so that there is no lapse on this count whatsoever.
(3.) Since the Floor Test is going to be held tomorrow i.e. 19.05.2018 at 04.00 p.m., Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, learned senior counsel appearing for the Chief Minister makes a statement at Bar that respondent no. 3 shall not take any policy decision till the Floor Test is conducted.;