New Delhi: Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde’s plea against the disqualification notice issued to him and 15 other legislators by the deputy speaker is expected to be heard today in the Supreme Court. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala is likely to hear the plea seeking directions for the deputy speaker to not take any action in the disqualification petition against him, as per the news agency PTI.
Maharashtra deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal has sent notices to the 16 Shiv Sena rebel MLAs. The MLAs have to be present in Mumbai on Monday for the hearing of disqualification.
In his plea, Shinde stated that he is constrained to invoke the jurisdiction of this Court under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the "arbitrary and illegal" exercise of provisions of Members of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on ground of Defection) Rules, 1986 by the deputy speaker which is completely violative of Article 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.
"The illegal and unconstitutional action of the Deputy Speaker insofar as recognising Ajay Choudhury as the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party (SSLP) despite the said request being admittedly made by a minority faction of the SSLP. Further, the said Respondent No. 1 (Deputy Speaker), even after belonging to the minority faction of the SSLP, has also filed a Petition under Rule 6 of MLA Defection Rules seeking disqualification of the Petitioner under Para-2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India for which the Petitioner received a notice dated June 2, 2022," the plea said, reported by the news agency.
Meanwhile, NCP MLC Eknath Khadse said that Shinde faction’s rebellion against Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief was due to some “powerful force” backing the dissidents.
On Sunday, the Central government had provided 15 rebel MLAs with Y+ category armed Central Reserve Police Force security cover.