India Supreme Court Adjourns Shiv Sena Merger Challenge

The Supreme Court of India adjourned for two weeks a petition filed by Arvind Ganpat Sawant of the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction. The legal challenge contests the decision of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to approve the merger of six UBT Members of Parliament into the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde.

This merger shifted the balance of power in the Lok Sabha, reducing the UBT faction's strength to three members while increasing the Shinde-led party's count to 13. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioner, argued that the Speaker does not possess the plenary power to approve such a merger unless a disqualification petition is first filed under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe postponed the proceedings because the Speaker and the Joint Secretary of the Lok Sabha were absent. The court noted that notices had been served to the parties on July 22.