On a problem concerning ordered colourings

Let G be a connected graph with v(G) 2 vertices and independence number (G). G is critical if for any edge e of G:

1. (i) (G − e) > (G), if e is not a cut edge of G, and

2. (ii) v(G_i) − (G_i) < v(G) − (G), I = 1, 2, if e is a cut edge and G₁, G₂ are the two components of G − e.

Recently, Katchalski et al. (1995) conjectured that: if G is a connected critical graph, then with equality possible if and only if G is a tree. In this paper we establish this conjecture.