SC to consider urgent hearing of Sena (UBT) plea against merger
Supreme Court may urgently hear Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bal Thackeray) challenge to Lok Sabha Speaker’s approval of merger treatment for six MPs
- The party told the Supreme Court that parliamentary work had been paralysed after Speaker approval of the merger treatment.
- The party argued that merger claims across the country are being used as a cover for horse-trading.
- The party argued that a valid merger must occur at the level of the original political party, not only the legislative party.
The Supreme Court agreed to consider urgently hearing a challenge by Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bal Thackeray) to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s approval of six of its nine Members of Parliament being treated as having merged with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The dispute matters for parliamentary stability, party identity, and the application of the anti-defection framework.
What the dispute is about
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bal Thackeray) told the Supreme Court that its work in Parliament had been paralysed after the Speaker’s approval. The party argued that merger claims are being used across the country as a cover for horse-trading.
UPSC can frame the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bal Thackeray) merger dispute around the Tenth Schedule, the distinction between a legislative party and the original political party, the Speaker’s role, and judicial handling of defection and merger disputes in legislatures.
