Karnataka tussle: SC says not restraining swearing-in; Cong pleads for more time

The Supreme Court tonight said it was not in favour of deferring BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa's swearing-in as Karnataka Chief Minister, even as the Congress and JD (S) continued their past-midnight legal push to stall the government formation in the state.

"As far as swearing-in is concerned, we are not restraining it, but we are making it subject to the outcome of the case," a three-judge bench, comprising justices A K Sikri, S A Bobde and Ashok Bhushan, said in a rare past-midnight hearing that was continuing till the wee hours of Thursday.

However, before the bench was to dictate the order, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi pleaded the bench not to dictate the final order and sought to argue the matter further.

Continuing with his submission, he said the swearing-in could be extended from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm on Thursday and the BJP should be asked to produce the letter of support from majority of MLAs submitted to the governor for forming the government.

The bench was of the view that since Yeddyurappa has not made his appearance through an advocate before it, a notice has to be issued to him.

However, Singhvi said Yeddyurappa has been heard in proxy through two BJP MLAs for whom Mukul Rohatgi has appeared in the case, hearing for which began at 2.11 am and was still on.

The lawyers were still inside the courtroom.