Karnataka turmoil: SC rejects plea against Bopaiah’s appointment as pro tem speaker

Agencies

May 19, 2018

New Delhi, May 19: Ahead of the floor test in the Karnataka Assembly on Saturday at 4 pm, the Supreme Court has rejected a petition by the Congress-JD(S)challenging the appointment of K.G. Bopaiah as pro-tem speaker.

The court said he will continue to be the pro-tem speaker.

At the moment, the oath ceremony is being conducted by pro-tem speaker K.G. Bopaiah in the state assembly of Karnataka and in the evening he will conduct the floor test to determine whether the Bharatiya Janata Party has the majority in the state assembly.

The Supreme Court said, "Law can't direct the governor to appoint a particular person as pro-tem speaker. Unless convention becomes the legal norm, it can't be enforced by court."

Justice S.A. Bobde, during the hearing, countered the Congress argument about the existence of the convention of electing the senior-most legislator as the pro-tem speaker.

"There've been instances where senior most MLA wasn't appointed as pro-tem speaker," he said.

To this Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Congress-JD(S) alliance, said, "KG Bopaiah has a different history. His decision of disqualification (of rebel BJP MLAs in 2010) was set aside by this court earlier."

Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal appeared for Congress and JD(S). Senior Advocate Ram Jethmalani was also present in the hearing. Attorney General K.K. Venugopal and Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta along with senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi were present to defend the appointment of the pro-tem speaker.

A three-judge bench, comprising of Justices Ashok Bhushan and S. A. Bobde and headed by Justice A.K. Sikri, heard the petition.

The petition had claimed that the appointment made by Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R. Vala was "unconstitutional" and requested the apex court to set it aside.

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Mangaluru: Youth arrested for misleading Instagram post targeting police

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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