MUMBAI: In a recent development, the Supreme Court has provided an extension until February 15, 2024, to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to deliver his verdict in the disqualification proceedings involving two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The decision was made by a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud. The Chief Justice had previously granted time to the Speaker, setting a deadline for the verdict on or before January 31. However, in the recent extension, the bench acknowledged the Speaker's order of January 25, which mentioned that the cross-examination of witnesses for respondents could not be concluded. A time schedule was agreed upon with the consent of parties, and the matter is now expected to conclude on February 15, reserved for orders.
Representing Speaker Rahul Narwekar, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the Speaker was engrossed in deciding on disqualification petitions of Shiv Sena MLAs, seeking a "realistic" three-week time to deliver a verdict on the NCP matter. The disqualification case revolves around petitions filed by the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP, urging the Supreme Court to intervene and direct the Speaker to decide on the disqualification pleas against the Ajit Pawar faction. The dispute emerged when a section of the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar, joined the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition in the Maharashtra government. Ajit Pawar subsequently took oath as the state's deputy chief minister, and eight other NCP MLAs became ministers, prompting the Sharad Pawar faction to file a disqualification petition.
The Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, has closely monitored the proceedings, setting deadlines and extensions to ensure a fair and timely resolution to the internal strife within the NCP.