SC orders Maharashtra Speaker to decide on disqualification petition of MLAs by January 10

The Supreme Court on Friday granted 10 more days to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Gandhi to decide on cross-petitions filed by rival factions of Shiv Sena seeking disqualification of each other's MLAs.

The apex court had earlier asked the Speaker to decide on the disqualification petitions by December 31 but has now extended the time till January 10, 2024 next year.

A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said the Speaker has indicated that the proceedings will be closed on December 20 and the Speaker had sought a reasonable extension of time. Keeping in mind the deadline set earlier, we extend the time till January 10, 2023, for the Speaker to give a decision.

The top court was hearing two petitions filed by Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray faction and NCP's Sharad Pawar faction, seeking direction from the Speaker to take an expeditious decision on the disqualification proceedings against some MLAs.

The bench on September 18 had directed the Speaker to tell the timetable for the decision on the disqualification petitions against Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena MLAs loyal to him, who have allied with the BJP to form the new government in June 2022.