SC Slams Maharashtra Speaker For Delay In Deciding On Plea To Disqualify CM Eknath Shinde, Uddhav Sena Reacts

Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's NCP have alleged that the Maharashtra assembly Speaker is using delay tactics to decide on the disqualification of MLAs.

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar (L), Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi.

Source : PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has welcomed the Supreme Court's decision directing the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker to decide on disqualification pleas. She said the court's order suggests the Speaker was doing contempt of court and was trying to delay things. The top court on Friday came down hard on the Maharashtra assembly Speaker for the delay in deciding the plea for disqualification of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and several other MLAs. It said that the speaker "cannot defeat the orders" of the top court.

Reacting to it, Chaturvedi said, "Supreme Court's decision today on the disqualification procedure clearly shows that Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly is doing contempt of court. The court has directed him to decide only on disqualification (petitions). Taking statements through tribunal is a tactic to delay things. I welcome this decision. The Maharashtra Assembly Speaker is working in a partisan manner."

VIDEO | "Supreme Court's decision today on the disqualification procedure clearly shows that Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly is doing contempt of court. The court has directed him to decide only on disqualification (petitions). Taking statements through tribunal is a tactic to… pic.twitter.com/TnZK4rSAIL

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 13, 2023

Notably, the NCP and Shiv Sena (UBT) have approached the Supreme Court to give directions to the Maharashtra Speaker to take a decision regarding the disqualification of some MLAs in a time-bound manner. NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the apex court can direct the Speaker to take a decision as they fear that "delay tactics are being used in the matter". 

"Directions should be (given) that the decision should be taken in a specific timeframe and it cannot be delayed. The same stand was of the Shiv Sena," Pawar said after the Supreme Court's observations on the plea.

According to PTI, a bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud said a decision on disqualification pleas has to be taken before the next assembly elections or the whole process will become infructuous.

Both the Sena (UBT) and Pawar-led NCP want a speedy decision on disqualification of rebel MLAs.