The Supreme Court has directed Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar to maintain status quo as on today with regard to resignation and disqualification of 10 rebel MLAs.

The matter would be heard again on Tuesday (16 July).

The Apex asked whether the Speaker had the power to challenge its order, while hearing a plea moved by the Speaker against the top court order asking him to take a decision on the resignation of 10 rebel MLAs on Thursday.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi concluded hearing on a bunch of pleas moved by the speaker and the rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs.

The MLAs told the bench that the speaker had not taken any decision on their decision to step down, adding that he had no immunity with regard to the acceptance of the resignations. However, the counsel appearing for the Karnataka Assembly speaker said he was constitutionally obligated to decide on a plea for disqualification of the rebel MLAs