Apex Court Constitution Bench to concentrate to Shiv Sena petitions

The court also said that the Constitution Bench will assemble on August 25 to consider the interim prayer to restrain the ECI from proceeding with applications by the Eknath Shinde camp seeking to be recognised because the important Shiv Sena and claiming right to use the party's 'bow and arrow' election symbol.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday referred questions arising out of petitions filed by leaders of the Udhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde factions within the Shiv Sena following a political row that led to the unseating of Thackeray and elevation of Shinde as CM, to a five-judge Constitution Bench.

A bench presided by CJI N V Ramana said the SC’s 2016 decision in Nabam Rebia case regarding the restrictions on the ability of the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker against whom disqualification application is pending, “requires gap filling to uphold constitutional morality” and added that “the question is therefore stated the Constitution Bench to conduct the requisite gap-filling exercise”.

The court also said that the Constitution Bench will assemble on August 25 to contemplate the interim prayer to restrain the ECI from proceeding with applications by the Eknath Shinde camp seeking to be recognised because the 000 Shiv Sena and claiming right to use the party’s ‘bow and arrow’ election symbol.