New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the Lok Sabha Secretary and six rebel Shiv Sena MPs on a plea by Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT).
In the plea, Sena (UBT) through MP Arvind Sawant challenged Birla’s decision of approving the merger of its six MPs with the rival Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The apex court has granted two weeks’ time to reply to the notices.
Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, representing , argued that the case involves important questions of constitutional morality and propriety.
“Six MPs chosen on my party symbol. No disqualification proceedings are pending. The question of deciding on the merger has not even arisen. Please have a look at the circular which was issued,” Kamat said. He further added that the circular was signed by a joint secretary, and there was no disclosure of whether the Speaker had passed any order to approve the merger.
“These six MPs unilaterally decide that now has to merge with the rival political party. There is absolutely no merger,” he submitted. Kamat also urged the court to pass an interim order to stay the decision.
“This whole thing has been orchestrated. There is grave urgency. Your lordships are well aware. All these processes get defeated by the efflux of time. We are not on the 10th schedule. The Speaker has no jurisdiction to pass an order on merger,” he said.
However, the top court declined to consider the prayer for a stay at this stage.
Last week, Birla approved the merger of six Sena UBT MPs with the Shiv Sena. Additionally, the Speaker also approved separate seating in the Lok Sabha for 20 MPs who broke away from the Trinamool Congress to join the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).
The Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) have been hit by a wave of defections. As many as 20 MPs, out of the total 29 Lok Sabha MPs who were elected on the TMC’s ticket, broke away and joined a little-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). Meanwhile, after the six MPs quit Uddhav Thackeray’s party, its strength reduced to only three seats in the Lower House.