The Supreme Court on Monday listed the petition filed by Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena against the newly-elected Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly recognising the whip nominated by the Eknath Shinde group as the Chief Whip of Shiv Sena.
A Vacation Bench comprising Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice J.K. Maheshwari listed the matter for July 11, clubbing it with other two petitions filed in relation to the political crisis in Maharashtra.
The petition filed by Eknath Shinde and 15 dissident MLAs challenging the disqualification proceedings initiated by the Deputy Speaker, besides the plea filed by Sunil Prabhu challenging the Governor’s direction for floor test, are also listed for hearing on July 11.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi today requested the bench to conduct urgent hearing in the matter.
As per Singhvi, the Speaker had no jurisdiction whatsoever to recognise the whip nominated by Shinde as Uddhav Thackeray was still the head of official Shiv Sena party. Last week, the Shinde faction had challenged the continuance of Sunil Prabhu as the official whip of Shiv Sena, but the Court refused to pass any interim order in this regard, noted the lawyer.
Sighvi said the Speaker recognising the new whip amounted to altering the status quo.
The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly had, on Sunday, elected BJP MLA Rahul Narvekar as the Speaker. Rahul then recognised the appointment of Bharat Gogawale from the Shinde camp as the Chief Whip of Sena, removing Sunil Prabhu, who belongs to the Thackeray camp.