The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly, Secretary of Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, and others on petitions filed by Eknath Shinde and 15 other rebel Shiv Sena MLAs against the disqualification notice served on them. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala also said no decision should be taken on their disqualification by the Maharashtra Assembly Deputy Speaker till July 11, PTI reported.
Earlier, the rebel MLAs were asked by the Depurty Speaker to file their responses to the disqualification notices by 5.30 pm on Monday. The Supreme Court also asked the Maharashtra government to protect the life, liberty and property of 39 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and their family members.
The top court was hearing petitions by Eknath Shinde and the rebel Sena MLAs challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Maharashtra Deputy Speaker to them and also the appointment of Ajay Choudhari as the Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader.
However, the Supreme Court refused to pass any interim order on a plea that there should not be any floor test in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly till July 11. “We can’t pass order on floor test as that would create unnecessary complications. If anything illegal happens, you can always move this court,” the court said.