Shiv Sena Rift: Supreme Court to hear the matter on March 16

Today, the Supreme Court of India listed the Shiv Sena rift between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde for a hearing on March 16, 2023. A five-judge bench was hearing the matter today, March 2, 2023, including Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, Justice MR Shah, Justice Hima Kohli, and Justice Krishna Murari. The matter was heard on the grounds of merits from February 21, 2023. The arguments for the Uddhav side were successfully commenced by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal and Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

While hearing the matter on March 1, 2023, the CJI addressed Senior Advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for Shinde, “A split does not postulate that people who are party to the split leave the party…The tenth Schedule also operates when a group of persons, whether minority or majority, claim they belong to the same party.” Further, the Supreme Court got an assurance from Shiv Sena that no action will be taken against any leader who opposes the chief whip’s order for at least two weeks. 

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