New Delhi [India], July 22 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and others on a plea of Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) challenging his decision to recognise the merger of six rebel MPs with the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe declined to immediately stay the merger while issuing notices to the Lok Sabha Speaker, its Secretary and six rebel MPs who merged with Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
It sought response from respondents and posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.
Senior advocate Devdutt Kamat, appearing for UBT Shiv Sena, told the bench that the issue raises important questions of constitutional morality and propriety.
“Six MPs chosen on my party symbol. No disqualification proceedings are pending. Question of deciding on the merger has not even arisen. Please have a look at the circular which was issued. This is signed by some joint secretary. We don’t even know whether the Speaker had passed an order or not,” Kamat said.
On July 18, ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla approved the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs into the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. The Shiv Sena (UBT) will now have only three MPs in the Lok Sabha.
Birla recognised the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs–Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Omraje Nimbalkar, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Bhausaheb Wakchaure–with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s strength in the Lok Sabha is now 13 from seven, the circular issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat said. (ANI)
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