Narwekar Says No Deadline given by SC to decide Disqualification Petitions

Mumbai: Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul on Saturday said that the Supreme Court has not directed him to decide disqualification of Shiv Sena MLAs within two months. He reiterated that he will respect every word said by the SC.

“The Supreme Court order is available online. It has not given two months to decide the matter nor asked for two-month timeline. The SC order speaks about issuing notices. Nowhere it has given a deadline of two months,” Mr. Narwekar said.

The speaker further said that he has been following the rules and laws of the legislature related to the disqualification. He said he respects the SC and will also protect the sovereignty of the Assembly.

"Whoever believes in parliamentary democracy and the Constitution, will not disrespect any agency set up under the Constitution or disrespect the orders of that institution. So I'm assuring that there is no question of me disrespecting the court (SC) or any order given by the SC. It will not be done by me,” he said.

Earlier, Narwekar held three hearings of the MLAs from both Sena factions and is expected to give his decision on the Thackeray faction’s demand of clubbing all the petitions on October 20. In response to the SC diktat on September 18 asking the speaker to submit a schedule for hearing, the state legislature, on September 25 submitted the same to the Apex court. It said the cross examination of the petitioners and other parties were expected to begin from November 23. However, the SC has not accepted the timeline.