The Lok Sabha Speaker’s decision to recognize the merger of 6 Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs into Shinde faction has been challenged in the Supreme Court. The court has issued notice to Speaker Om Birla and others and sought their reply within two weeks, but has refused to immediately stay the merger.
Supreme Court sent notice to the Speaker
New Delhi [भारत]July 22 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and others on a petition by Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). In this petition, the Speaker’s decision to recognize the merger of six rebel MPs with the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has been challenged.
A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe issued notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker, his secretary and six rebel MPs who merged with Shinde faction Shiv Sena, refusing to immediately stay the merger. The court has sought answers from the defendants and has fixed the hearing of the case after two weeks.
UBT’s lawyer’s argument
Senior advocate Devdutt Kamat, appearing for Shiv Sena (UBT), told the bench that the issue raises important questions of constitutional morality and propriety. Kamat said, “Six MPs were elected on my party’s election symbol. No disqualification proceedings are pending. The question of taking a decision on merger was not raised. Please see the circular issued. It is signed by a joint secretary. We also do not know whether the Speaker had passed any order or not.”
Speaker had approved the merger
On July 18, ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had approved the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs into the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Now only three Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs are left in the Lok Sabha.
Birla approved the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs – Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Omraj Nimbalkar, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Bhausaheb Wakchore – into the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. A circular issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat said that Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s strength in the Lok Sabha has now increased from seven to 13. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)