Sena row: SC orders Maharashtra assembly speaker to decide disqualification petition by Dec 31

Rahul Narwekar (File Photo)

Sena disqualification row: On Monday, the Supreme Court (SC) directed Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar to decide disqualification petitions against MLAs including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on or before December 31.

A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said procedural wranglings should not be permitted to delay disqualification petitions.

The court rejected the proposal of the Maharashtra Speaker that he could conclude proceedings on disqualification petitions by February 29, 2024.

"We are concerned that the sanctity of the tenth schedule must be maintained. Otherwise, we are throwing these provisions to the wind," it said.
The tenth schedule is designed to prevent political defections.

"The procedural wranglings should not be permitted to delay the petitions. We direct that proceedings be concluded and directions passed by December 31, 2023," the bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said.

The Supreme Court had earlier come down hard on the speaker, Rahul Narwekar, over the delay in deciding the pleas filed by the Uddhav Thackeray faction for the disqualification of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and several MLAs loyal to him, saying the speaker cannot defeat the orders of the top court.

Similar disqualification petitions have also been filed by the Shinde bloc against lawmakers owing allegiance to Thackeray.

On September 18, the Supreme Court directed the speaker to spell out the timeline for adjudication of the petitions.

More details awaited.