Supreme Court Orders 31 December Deadline For Maharashtra Speaker To Rule On CM Shinde's Disqualification Plea Amid Delays

The Supreme Court has issued a directive to Maharashtra assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, compelling him to make a decision regarding the disqualification petitions against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the supporting MLAs by 31 December.

The court's move follows earlier criticism of the Speaker for causing delays in the adjudication of these disqualification petitions, as reported by Hindustan Times.

On 13 October, the Supreme Court expressed its concern for upholding the dignity of the court and stressed the importance of compliance with their orders.

It warned that a timeline would be set if the Speaker failed to expedite the process and submit a revised schedule.

The court has emphasized that a decision on the disqualification pleas must be reached before the next assembly elections to avoid rendering the entire process meaningless.

The disqualification petitions stem from a series of actions taken by various factions within the Shiv Sena party.

In May this year, the Supreme Court ruled that Eknath Shinde would remain the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

It also noted that it could not reinstate the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition government led by Thackeray, as the latter had chosen to resign without undergoing a floor test following Shinde's rebellion.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has accused Speaker Narwekar of intentionally delaying a decision on the disqualification pleas, while the Speaker maintains that rushing the process could result in a "miscarriage of justice."