Speaker can’t defeat orders of SC: CJI over Shiv Sena fissure

The Supreme Court on Friday strongly criticised the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker for the delay in deciding the plea for the disqualification of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and several MLAs. The court stressed that the Speaker “cannot defeat the orders” of the top court.

“Somebody has to advise the Speaker that he cannot defeat the orders of the Supreme Court,” stated a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud. The Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, was asked to inform the court about the timeline for deciding the issue.

The visibly agitated Chief Justice stressed that a decision on disqualification pleas must be made before the next assembly elections, or the entire process would become ineffective. The bench indicated that if it is dissatisfied with the timeline provided by the Speaker, it would direct that a decision be made within two months.

“The authority of this court must prevail when there is a decision contrary to the Constitution of India,” the bench stated, indicating that it may hear the plea on Monday or Tuesday.

On September 18, the Apex Court had previously instructed the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker to specify the timeline for adjudicating the disqualification petitions against Shinde and other MLAs.