Ram Jethmalani moves SC against Karnataka governor's decision inviting BJP to form govt

New Delhi, May 17 (PTI): Senior lawyer and jurist Ram Jethmalani on Thursday moved the Supreme Court in his personal capacity against the Karnataka governor's decision to invite the Bharatiya Janata Party to form government in Karnataka, saying it was a “gross abuse of constitutional power”. 

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, D.Y. Chandrachud considered the submission of Jethmalani seeking urgent hearing and said that a three-judge special bench, which had heard the matter in the early hours, would re-assemble on Friday.

The bench asked the veteran lawyer to make his submission before the three-judge bench led by Justice A.K. Sikri on May 18 when the petitions filed by the Congress party and the Janata Dal (Secular) would be taken up for further hearing.

“The governor's order is a gross abuse of the constitutional power and this has brought disrepute to the constitutional office he has been holding,” Jethmalani submitted while seeking nod to submit his views in the case.

He said that he has not come before the court in favour or against any party but has been hurt over the unconstitutional decision taken by the Governor.

The Supreme Court refused to stay Yeddyurappa's swearing-in as Karnataka chief minister after the Congress-JD (S) combine made a last-ditch attempt to stall the saffron party's surge in the southern state.

The Congress alleged that the BJP, which has 104 legislators, was invited by the Governor to form the government “in an unconstitutional manner” even as JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy along with Congress has the support of 116 legislators. 

In the May 12 polls, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 104 members, while the Congress secured 78, the JD(S) 37 and others three.