The Supreme Court today directed that the 15 rebel MLAs of the Congress-JD(S) coalition in Karnataka should not be compelled to take part in the proceedings of the State Assembly.

The Assembly is slated to decide on the confidence motion moved by the HD Kumaraswamy-led government in the state tomorrow.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, also said, Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar was free to decide on the resignations of the rebel legislators within the time-frame decided by him. The court said, the Speaker’s decision be put before it.

Reacting to the judgment, Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar said, he will take a decision that in no way will go contrary to the Constitution, the court and the Lokpal.

BJP has welcomed the verdict. Party General Secretary Murlidhar Rao said in a tweet that the apex court while accepting Assembly Speaker as the authority to decide resignation issue, has clearly directed him to do it fast without delay. Mr Rao said there is no question of disqualification now.

BJP’s State President BS Yeddyurappa said, it is a victory of constitution and democracy and a moral victory for the rebel MLAs.

He said, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has lost his mandate and he must resign tomorrow.

The Karnataka Congress hailed the verdict on Twitter.