On Monday, the Supreme Court directed Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to decide on the Shinde faction disqualification by December 31. The petitions were filed after the rebellion in the Shiv Sena camp last year.
The matter was being heard by a three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud who refused to give more time to the Speaker. Rahul Narwekar had filed an affidavit to seek time till February 2024 to complete the hearings.
The bench headed by the CJI also comprised of Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra. The bench noted: “We have repeatedly furnished opportunities to the Speaker and the tribunal, which is to conclude the proceedings under the 10th Schedule expeditiously.”
It further added: “We are clearly of the view that the procedural wrangling between contesting parties should not be permitted to delay the conclusion of the petitions for disqualification under the 10th Schedule. In this view of the matter, we direct that proceedings be concluded and final order passed on or before December 31, 2023”.
Although Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who was representing the Speaker tried to buy time till January 31 for deciding on Shiv Sena petitions, the Apex Court did not agree to his request. CJI D Y Chandrachud said: “The sanctity of the 10th Schedule must be maintained. Otherwise we are throwing these provisions to the wind…Let the proceedings be completed by December 31.”
