Maharashtra
Maharashtra political crisis: SC reserves Shiv Sena case to decide on referring to larger 7-Judge Bench

New Delhi: A 5-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, on Thursday reserved its verdict on the Maharashtra political crisis triggered by split in the Shiv Sena in June last year on whether to refer it to a larger 7-judge Bench in the context of 2016 Nagam Rebia verdict on powers of Assembly speaker to handle disqualification pleas.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for former CM Uddhav Thackeray, wanted a larger Bench to decide since the Rebia verdict was also by a 5-judge Bench.
The Bench sat beyond the break up to 1.45 pm to hear submissions from the senior lawyers appearing from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and ex-CM Thackeray.
Heard counel from parties. Arguments addressed on the question of Nabam Rebia being referred to a larger bench. Orders reserved,” the CJI said on behalf of the Bench comprising Justices M R Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha.
Nabam Rebia case of Arunachal Pradesh
In 2016, a five-judge constitution bench, while deciding the Nabam Rebia case of Arunachal Pradesh, had held that the assembly speaker cannot proceed with a plea for disqualification of MLAs if a prior notice seeking removal of the speaker is pending decision in the House.
The judgement had come to the rescue of the rebel MLAs led by Eknath Shinde, now the chief minister of Maharashtra. The Thackeray faction had sought their disqualification noting that a prior notice seeking removal of the Deputy Speaker was pending in the House.
In the instant case, the Shinde group had sought removal of deputy speaker Narhari Zirwar, having an allegiance to Thackeray group, ahd asserted that he cannot disqualify anybody when a notice for his removal is pending.
‘Manipulation in legislature’
Sibal pleaded with the court not to allow toppling of the elected governments the way Shinde group did as it is a fundamental principle of democracy. He said what was done in Maharashtra was manipulation in the legislature, stressing that “it will happen and it has already happened.”
He said even if a thumping majority of say 40 out of 50 revolt, they can be disqualified by the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution. Only the merger of the defectors with another party can save them from disqualification.
He and Singhvi ridiculed the Shinde group quoting the Nabam Rebia ruling in their notice against then deputy speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly, but their senior lawyers Harish Salve, N K Kaul and Mahesh Jethmalani now oppose a larger bench to vet the Rebia ruling. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Maharashtra governor, also opposed reference to a 7-judge bench as it will delay the finality.
How Shinde became Maharashtra CM
They argued that Thackeray was asked by the Governor to prove his majority on June 30, but he resigned a day earlier and that led to Shinde becoming the Chief Minister. Sibal said the Shinde group rushed a notice to then deputy speaker to paralyse him.
He ridiculed the lawyers of Shinde group claiming that the issue is only academic, but the fact is that it has elected a new Speaker who cannot be removed now by the Thackeray group.
Sibal also indirectly hinted how then Justice Arun Mishra heard the defection case of Rajasthan against the Congress government almost on daily basis while putting off the Goa case for two years since the Congress MLAs had merged into the BJP to help it form the government.
Maharashtra
Three arrested in theft at Sewri Jain temple; police track down accused even after damaging CCTV

Mumbai: The police have claimed to have arrested three masked robbers who ransacked a Jain temple in the limits of the Sewri RA Kadwai Marg police station. On April 22 at 2 am, three unidentified robbers broke the lock of the Jain temple and entered the temple. They stole the idol’s ornaments – gold tikka, gold kapati, silver mace, donation box worth a total of more than Rs 7 lakh and cash and fled.
During the theft, the unidentified robbers had damaged the CCTV camera and video footage and had also cut its wires, so it was difficult to find them, but the police team examined more than 70 CCTV footage at 29 places in the area, in which these accused were identified. The accused had covered their faces with a handkerchief so that they could not be identified. However, using technology, the police arrested the three thieves, Sunil Singh Suraj Singh, Rahul Singh Parveen Singh, and Jagar Dinesh Singh Vaghela. The stolen goods and equipment have been recovered from the possession of the accused. This operation was carried out under the leadership of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti on the instructions of Joint Commissioner of Police Satyanarayan Chaudhary and DCP Ragasudha.
Maharashtra
SP leader Raees Sheikh writes to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vishnu demanding special trains for UP and Bihar

Mumbai: In the wake of the unavailability of train tickets for North Indians from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Samajwadi Party legislator Raees Sheikh on Saturday demanded that the Railways run special trains from Mumbai to these states. Sheikh made the demand after images of crowding of people on train tracks and railway platforms and lack of basic civic amenities went viral on social media. A large number of people from the North Indian community are upset due to the lack of proper train services.
In his letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vishnu, Sheikh said that railway stations like Bandra Terminus, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Dadar are crowded with passengers for tickets. A large number of North Indians travel to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during the summer, which coincides with the wedding season. Lack of sufficient trains and resulting overcrowding are causing severe hardship to the North Indian community in Mumbai, said MLA Raees Sheikh, who demanded that the Railways immediately run special trains from Mumbai to Gorakhpur, Patna and other places in Purvanchal, departing from Bandra, LTT and CST stations. Sheikh added, “The Railways should also set up proper help desks and GRP assistance booths at major stations in Mumbai to manage the crowd and assist passengers.” He further stressed on the need to add additional general and sleeper coaches in all trains going to UP to accommodate the rush. He also urged the Railways to take all necessary steps to ensure better coordination with the authorities concerned.
Maharashtra
Accused of verbally abusing Environment Minister Pankaja Munde arrested from Pune

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Cyber Cell has claimed to have arrested a youth from Bhosari area of Pune for harassing Environment Minister Pankaja Munde. According to details, the accused used to harass the minister continuously through several messages and personal mobiles and also made derogatory comments. After that, the Cyber Cell department received a complaint and when the above number was traced, it was found in Bhosari, Pune. A case was registered under the provisions of the Cyber Technology Act and BMS and in this case, the accused Amol Chhagan Rao Kale has been arrested. He is an engineering graduate and is also a resident of Beed district. The accused was produced in the court where an order was issued to keep him on remand. The accused used to harass the minister repeatedly. In this case, the police have also claimed to have seized the mobile phone and other devices used in the crime.
Along with collecting digital evidence, an investigation is also underway to find out who else is involved in this matter. The cyber department takes immediate action on complaints related to women and if someone misuses social media platforms to target women, strict action is taken against them. If someone is found involved in the crime of defaming or threatening women by disclosing their personal information, the cyber department takes strict action against them. The cyber cell has appealed that if any woman is a victim of harassment, she can contact the cyber cell immediately.
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