Sena vs Sena: Supreme Court sends Maharashtra petitions to 5-judge Constitution bench

The Supreme Court on Tuesday held a hearing regarding the Shiv Sena dispute. While hearing the matter, the Supreme Court has entrusted its responsibility to a five-judge Constitution Bench.

Meanwhile, a bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justices Krishna Murari, and Hima Kohli referred the petitions to a five-judge bench. The next hearing on this matter will be held on Thursday.

The court has directed the Election Commission not to take any action till Thursday on the application filed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s camp seeking recognition of it as a ‘real Shiv Sena’ party and allotting it the symbol.

Before the hearing in the court, former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray had said that what will happen in the court will be seen. I have full faith in the judiciary and public sentiment is with me.

At the same time, so far three hearings have been held in the Supreme Court on this matter. Lawyers for both sides have given their arguments. However, the hearing of this case is not over yet. The Chief Justice is also retiring this month, so it is believed that the decision in this matter can come earlier.

In the petition, disqualification has been sought against Eknath Shinde, Bharatshet Gogavale, Sandipanrao Bhumre, Abdul Sattar, Sanjay Shirsat, Yamini Jadhav, Anil Babar, Balaji Kinikar, Tanaji Sawant, Prakash Surve, Mahesh Shinde, Lata Sonawane, Chimanrao Patil, Ramesh Kalyankar, Sanjay Raimulkar, and Balaji. The petition is filed by Thackeray camp’s Sunil Prabhu.

Earlier in June with the support of the BJP, Eknath Shinde became the Chief Minister of the state and Devendra Fadnavis became the Deputy Chief Minister.