Mumbai: The Supreme Court on Thursday heard petitions filed over the political crisis in Maharashtra. In a major relief to Uddhav Thackeray, the court has asked the Election Commission not to take any decision on the Shinde faction's plea for now. CJI NV Ramana said that on August 8, all parties have to file a reply in the Election Commission. If the party seeks time to file its reply, the Election Commission should consider giving it time. The supreme court will hear the matter on Monday.
Not only this, the court said that it will decide on August 8 whether to refer the matter to a 5-judge constitution bench for hearing or not. Hearing a petition seeking disqualification of the MLAs, the CJI asked Kapil Sibal, "How can we interfere in this is a matter of recognition of a political party?" This is the case in the Election Commission. To this, Sibal said that suppose the commission gives a verdict in this matter. Then, the Supreme Court decides on disqualification. Then what will happen? Singhvi said that the decision on disqualification should come first.
Sibal said that any political party can say that 30/40 MLA is the real party. On the other hand, the Election Commission said that if any party comes to the Commission in such cases, then it is the duty of the Commission at that time to determine who is the real party. The Election Commission said that we are a separate constitutional body. We have asked for the documents. This process is completely different. Harish Salve said, "Suppose all the people are disqualified and elections come, can't we say that we are the real party? Salve supported the Election Commission's stand that even if the MLAs become disqualified, what difference will it make to the political party? The CJI asked the Election Commission whether the Election Commission can cancel its proceedings till the court decides the matter. The CJI said, the Election Commission should not decide the matter now. But all parties can file affidavits. We are not issuing orders on this. But, don't take any action in this matter for the time being.
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