Now Reading: Supreme Court adjourns Shiv Sena UBT plea on six MPs’ merger for two weeks
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Supreme Court adjourns Shiv Sena UBT plea on six MPs’ merger for two weeks
Supreme Court adjourns Shiv Sena UBT plea on six MPs’ merger for two weeks
The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned for two weeks a hearing on the Shiv Sena (UBT) plea challenging Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's approval of the merger of six of its MPs…
The Story in Brief
The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned for two weeks a hearing on the Shiv Sena (UBT) plea challenging Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's approval of the merger of six of its MPs with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe noted that the Speaker's office and other parties had not yet received the notice issued on the petition filed by UBT leader Arvind Ganpat Sawant.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the Speaker cannot exercise plenary powers and must decide only on disqualification applications. He sought interim relief, warning of serious consequences. The court will hear the matter in two weeks. Birla approved the merger on July 18, raising the Shinde faction's strength to 13, while six of the nine UBT elected MPs have now joined it.
The Indian Opinion
The claim that the Speaker acted with plenary powers needs scrutiny. The anti-defection law limits the Speaker's role to deciding disqualification, not blessing mergers that bypass the original party. UBT's demand for interim relief is fair, but the delay in serving notices is procedural. The real test comes in two weeks: if the court indicates the merger cannot stand without a floor test, it will send a clear signal. Will the Shinde faction's numbers survive that legal challenge? Watch the next hearing.
Source: newindianexpress.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
