SC orders floor test in MP Assembly by 5 pm today

New Delhi: In a major development amid the ongoing Madhya Pradesh political crisis, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a floor test in the state Legislative Assembly be held on Friday and the proceedings be completed before 5 pm.

The floor test will be done by a show of hands, it said.

A bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud and comprising Justice Hemant Gupta said the test is essential to the political uncertainty in the state. The bench also directed the Karnataka DGP to provide security to 16 rebel Congress MLAs who may want to attend the floor test.

"The session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly which has been deferred to March 26, 2020, shall be reconvened on March 20, 2020. The meeting to be convened shall be confined to a single agenda, namely, whether the government of the incumbent Chief Minister continues to enjoy the confidence of the House," it said.

The court said the voting on the agenda shall take place by show of hands, as the Governor having clarified by his letter dated March 15 that there is no provision for recording the division by 'press of button', and the proceedings shall be videographed and if a provision exists for the live telecast of the proceedings.

"All authorities, including the Legislative Secretary, shall ensure that there is no breach of law and order in the course of the proceedings and that the floor test is conducted in a peaceful manner," it ruled.

With agency inputs