The BJP Government defended before the Bombay High Court on Tuesday the decision of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to go in for a voice vote instead of a head-count (division of votes) over the trust motion.

“The first option for the Speaker is voice vote followed by a division of votes... if majority is proved by a voice vote then there is no need to go for a head count,” argued advocate general Sunil Manohar, replying to petitions challenging validity of the trust vote won by the government. Voice vote is a rule and division of votes is an exception, Manohar said, adding that all the motions are generally decided by a voice vote.