New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday said that it may decide on August 8 whether to refer some issues involved in the Maharashtra political crisis to a five-judge Constitutional bench.
Maharashtra Political Crisis: Supreme Court to hear the matter on 8 Aug#MaharashtraPolitcalCrisis #SupremeCourt
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A bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Hima Kohli also asked the Election Commission of India not to decide the application filed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde camp for recognition as the 'real Shiv Sena' party and allotment of the bow and arrow symbol to it.
It told the Election Commission that if the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp seeks time to file a response to its notices on Shinde camp's petition, it should consider their request of adjournment. The bench asked the poll panel to allow the Thackeray camp to file their affidavits and not to take precipitative action.
"We will decide whether to refer the matter to a five-judge Constitution bench. The Election Commission of India has decided on August 8 to submit reply by Uddhav Thackeray-led faction (on the application of Shinde group claiming real Shiv Sena party and for symbol request). They will seek time. Election Commission to grant reasonable adjournment. We will take a call by Monday," the bench said in its order.
The apex court was hearing a plea of the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp of Shiv Sena seeking stay on the proceedings before the Election Commission of India on the Eknath Shinde group's claim for recognition as the 'real' Shiv Sena.
Filing the application, Subhash Desai, the General Secretary of Shiv Sena, has said that the Election Commission can't decide the matter since the cases are pending before the Supreme Court.
The application was filed against the proceedings initiated by the Election Commission of India on a request made by Eknath Shinde-led faction for recognition as the 'real' Shivsena and their claim over the party's election symbol - the bow and arrow. (ANI)
