Rebel Shivsena MLA Eknath Shinde and his group on Monday got a relief from the Supreme Court as they were granted a time till July 12 to reply to a notice sent by Deputy Speaker.
A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala is hearing the petitions filed by the Shinde group challenging the disqualification notices issued to 16 MLAs by Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly and appointment of Ajay Choudhari as Shiv Sena legislative party leader.
The bench said in its order that, “ As an interim measure, the time granted by Deputy Speaker to the petitioners or other similarly placed MLAs to submit their submissions stands extended till July 12.”
The court also took note of Maharashtra’s attorney’s argument that the dissident MLAs’ lives and property would not be endangered.
The Bench further mentioned during the hearing that the question before the Court is whether the Deputy Speaker can rule on disqualification petitions against the MLAs in the event that the MLAs have given notice that they want the Deputy Speaker himself removed.
