Karnataka drama: How Congress pleaded before SC to stay swearing-in of Yeddyurappa

The intervening night preceding the swearing-in of BS Yeddyurappa saw a high-wire drama that spilled on to daybreak, as Congress knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court to plead for a stay on Governor’s decision. The midnight hearing — that went on for more than three hours — was a first for the apex court after it opened its doors to hear the execution of Yakub Memon.

Late Wednesday night, as soon as the BJP’s Karnataka unit declared the swearing-in time of the chief minister, the Congress swung into action and sought permission for an urgent hearing.

Appearing as counsel for Karnataka Congress president G Parameshwara and JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy, Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi reached the office of Secretary General of the Supreme Court Registry Ravindra Maithani, seeking an urgent hearing. He submitted a petition, where the primary pleas were to defer the swearing-in of the BJP legislators and to slash the 15-day time given by Governor Vajubhai Vala to Yeddyurappa to prove majority.

12 am: CJI’s house

After perusing the petition, Maithani made his way to the house of the Chief Justice of India, where a gathering of scribes had already assembled anticipating some drama. Hours before the action enfolded, it is learnt that the Congress started gathering its forces in Delhi. Singhvi was in Chandigarh earlier that day and made his way to Delhi by late afternoon. From its Bangalore war room, the party dispatched Lingayat leader Basavaraju AP with a dossier of crucial papers.

At the CJI’s house, Maithani stayed inside for close to an hour, as discussions went on inside. Singhvi was seen sitting inside his car outside the Supreme Court all along waiting for a word. At around 1:20 am, as Maithani made his way out of the CJI’s residence, word finally got out that the matter will be heard by 1:45 am by a three-member bench headed by Justice AK Sikri. Justices Arvind Bobde and Ashok Bhushan were to comprise the bench.

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The announcement volleyed through a flurry of activity towards the SC.

Source: DNA India