New Delhi, The rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena have got a big relief from the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has given 14 days time to 16 rebel MLAs to respond to the Deputy Speaker’s notice. Deputy Speaker Narhari Jirwal had issued notices to 16 Shiv Sena MLAs, including Eknath Shinde, asking them to respond by Monday evening. The show cause notice said why his membership should not be cancelled. Shinde and the remaining 15 MLAs had given a petition in the Supreme Court on Sunday, which was accepted at the same time and after hearing on Monday, the court gave relief to all the rebels.
The bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice JB Pardiwala, while hearing the matter, also directed to provide security to all the MLAs. The next hearing in the Supreme Court will be on July 11. Shinde and the rebel MLAs had challenged the disqualification notice served by the deputy speaker as well as their decision to appoint Ajay Choudhary as the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party in the Assembly. While hearing this, both the judges heard the arguments of Shinde faction, Maharashtra government and Shiv Sena. The court then fixed July 11 to respond to the notice of the deputy speaker disqualifying the MLAs.
The Supreme Court has also issued notices to Maharashtra Bhavan, Deputy Speaker, Maharashtra Police, Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader Ajay Choudhary and the Centre. The court has ordered to provide security to all the MLAs and maintain status quo. The deputy speaker has to present his reply before the court in five days. The Supreme Court has refused to issue any interim order regarding floor test to prove majority.
The question was raised on behalf of the rebel MLAs in front of the court regarding the position of the deputy speaker. He said the position of the deputy speaker was not clear and he was served a notice for his removal, which he rejected. The rebel MLAs say that when the position of the deputy speaker himself is not clear, how can they issue a notice.
On the other hand, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi on behalf of the Deputy Speaker raised the question that why the rebel MLAs did not go to the High Court first and come to the Supreme Court. He further said that it does not happen in any case that any matter is pending before the Speaker and the court has interfered in it. Until the speaker takes the final decision, the court does not take any action. He also said that the notice given by the MLAs against the deputy speaker was in wrong format, it was not sent through registered e-mail and was not sent to the assembly office, hence it was rejected.
