Eknath Shinde's side wants an immediate hearing, and the SC might hear the issue tomorrow

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court announced that it would schedule lawsuits brought by Shiv Sena rival organizations in connection with the political crisis in Maharashtra for hearing the following day. After senior attorney Neeraj Kishan Kaul, speaking on behalf of the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde group, requested an urgent hearing of the matter, a bench of Chief Justice UU Lalit and Justice S Ravindra Bhat indicated it may list the cases for hearing on Wednesday.

 

CJI Lalit stated, "I cannot say off the top of my head, but something will be there by tomorrow." Kaul stated that the highest court had submitted the case to a five-judge Constitution Bench and that the Election Commission of India's efforts to identify the "genuine" Shiv Sena had come to a standstill. Kaul informed the bench that there was a pressing need to settle the matter before the State's approaching local body elections. 

 

The three-judge top court panel had referred the plea filed by Shiv Sena's rival parties in relation to the political situation in Maharashtra to a five-judge Constitution bench in August. The Constitution bench will hear the case on August 25, according to the supreme court, although that date has not yet arrived. Additionally, it has directed the Election Commission of India to postpone making a decision on the Eknath Shinde camp's plea to be recognized as the "genuine" Shiv Sena party and to receive the bow and arrow symbol until August 25.

 

The matter was referred to the Constitution bench on August 25 for interim relief on the Shiv Sena's symbol issue at the top court's plea, which came from prominent attorney Kapil Sibal, who was representing the Uddhav Thackeray camp. The Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray had requested a stay of the Election Commission of India's proceedings regarding the Eknath Shinde group's request for recognition as the "genuine" Shiv Sena. The Supreme Court's decision was based on several arguments made by both Shiv Sena groups.

 

 

A larger Constitutional bench may be needed to evaluate some of the problems related to the Maharashtra political crisis, according to a statement made earlier by the Supreme Court's three-judge panel. Additionally, it requested that Rahul Narwekar, Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, refrain from acting on the newly issued disqualification orders filed against Shiv Sena lawmakers.

Both Shiv Sena groups have petitions before the Supreme Court that are now pending.

 

 

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