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Maharashtra rebel MLAs cite threat when asked by SC: ‘Why didn’t you go to HC?'
Maharashtra political crisis: Eknath Shinde's rebellion unfolded last week.
The Supreme Court on Monday took up the petition linked to the Maharashtra political crisis as it asked rebel leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs: “Why did you not go to the high court?”
To this, the lawyer representing them - Neeraj K Kaul - responded saying, “Threats to us and our families make it non-conducive to pursue cases in Mumbai."
Two petitions were filed by the breakaway faction after disqualification notices were sent to 16 MLAs by deputy assembly speaker Narhari Zirwal and they were asked to appear on Monday.
The Shinde faction is camped at a luxury hotel in Assam's Guwahati since Wednesday. Shinde's rebellion unfolded last week after he went to Surat in Gujarat with some of the rebel leaders. Both the states are ruled by the BJP.
Shinde's faction has been growing in strength. As their petition came up for hearing in the top court, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray re-allocated the portfolios of nine rebel ministers, which will now be handled by other leaders.
In the Supreme Court, Shinde on Monday said they were a group of 39 MLAs. Earlier, in his petition, he had stressed that the Uddhav Thackeray government has lost majority in the state assembly, claiming that most of 55 Sena MLAs are in the rebel faction.
"The deputy speaker has no authority to deal with disqualification when his own status is doubtful. It doesn't matter that the assembly isn't in session. Whenever the assembly convenes, removal motion against the deputy speaker has to be the first matter," the rebel MLAs' lawyer told the court.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Uddhav Thackeray supporters in the court, said the petition “can be very well heard by the Bombay High Court”.
“This isn't a case to allow leap-frogging. Courts shouldn't interfere until the speaker decides,” he argued.
