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- The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on petitions filed by the rebel legislators of the ruling government in Karnataka.
- The plea seeks a directive to the speaker of the Karnataka state assembly to decide on their resignations from the Legislative assembly.
- During the hearing,Supreme Court said that the position and powers of the Speaker after the enactment of the anti-defection law in 1985 may require a re-look.
- The anti-defection law is contained in the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.It was enacted by Parliament in 1985. It came into effect on 1st March 1985.
- The purpose of the anti-defection law is to curb political defection by the legislators.The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies.
- It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House.
- There are two grounds on which a member of a legislature can be disqualified: a) if he/she voluntarily gives up the membership of his/her party and b) if a legislator votes in the House against the direction of his/her party and his/her action is not condoned by his party.
- There is an exception that has been provided in the law to protect the legislators from disqualification. The 10th Schedule says that if there is a merger between two political parties and two-thirds of the members of a legislature party agree to the merger, they will not be disqualified.
