Live Updates: KG Bopaiah to continue as Pro-Tem Speaker, Live Telecast of Karnataka floor test

A three-judge Bench of Justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde, and Ashok Bhushan has begun hearing a plea filed by Congress and JDS leaders challenging the appointment of MLA KG Bopaiah as the pro-tem speaker for the floor test in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly scheduled for 4pm today..Here are live updates on the hearing as it progresses:.Hearing commences. Attorney General KK Venugopal requests the judges to use the microphone. Kapil Sibal commences his arguments.Arguing on Protem speaker – KG Bopaiah – He is the person against whom there have been orders by this court itself. He is a junior member. This creates inconsistency.Kapil Sibal reads out the appointment order of KG Bopaiah.Congress-JDS wrote to the Governor. It is an established principle that the senior most member shall be appointed as the pro tem speaker. Convention formed by the Supreme Court are laid down in two landmark judgments and also laid down in practices of the parliament.Kapil Sibal lists down all the pro tem Speakers appointed in Lok Sabha.Justice SA Bobde – Vikhe Patil was not the senior most. An MP from Rajasthan was senior to V PatilKapil Sibal – He did not have a history like KG Bopaiah.Abhishek Manu Singhvi says senior most not in age but in the number of terms. Bobade agrees.Kapil Sibal reminds the court of KG Bopaiah’s antecedents (what happened last time he was pro-tem and the episode of Operation Lotus)Now Kapil Sibal is reading out observations from an old judgment against KG Bopaiah. We would have never come to the lordships if the protocol was followed.Justice SA Bobde: If you want us to consider specifically this issue then we must issue a notice to him and hear him too.Justice AK Sikri: Yesterday you suggested that a pro-tem should be appointed. You asked us to appoint a pro-tem speakerKapil Sibal – we didn’t know then that convention would be violatedJustice Bobde: you’re coming from a point of contradiction…(not clear)Kapil Sibal: we are not casting any aspersions on him (KG Bopaiah) [Everyone laughs]Justice Sikri: if we agree with you and assuring that this order and notification is only for an oath, then who will conduct the floor test? You want us to order the Governor to appoint? it is not the law to order a GovernorTushar Mehta: Speaker has said that the floor test will be live, what more transparency do you want?Justice Sikri: Tushar Mehta thank you very much. This was a question in our mind also.Justice Bobde: Based on your statements, which channel is going to broadcast?.Tushar Mehta: all local channelsJustice Bobde: Let it be all channelsJustice Sikri: Number of prayers made in this IA, we may place on record that statement of Mehta is that there will be live telecast of the floor test. Secretary of the Legislature will also record the proceedings.Justice Sikri: Mr. Sibal and Singhvi arguing for petitioners. There is no other agenda will be taken.Bench Orders that let there be live telecast of the vote.Bench Rises.