Archive · 23 Jul 2026
Supreme Court Issues Notice on Shiv Sena MPs Merger
The Supreme Court of India has asked the Lok Sabha Speaker's office and six rebel MPs from the Shiv Sena(UBT) to respond to a complaint.
The complaint is from Arvind Sawant, a leader of the Shiv Sena(UBT).
He is challenging a decision by the Speaker that allows these six MPs to join the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena.
The Speaker's decision reduces the number of Shiv Sena(UBT) MPs in the Lok Sabha from nine to three.
Sawant argues that the Speaker's decision is not valid because the merger was not approved by the party president, Uddhav Thackeray.
The Supreme Court did not stop the Speaker's decision but will hear more arguments in two weeks.
Another lawyer, Kapil Sibal, has also filed a separate complaint, saying the current rules allow MPs to avoid being disqualified for changing parties, which goes against the purpose of the anti-defection law.
The Supreme Court issued notices to the Lok Sabha Speaker's office and six rebel Shiv Sena(UBT) MPs over a plea by Arvind Sawant challenging the Speaker's decision recognizing their merger with the Shinde faction.
The court did not stay the Speaker's decision but posted the matter for further hearing after two weeks.
Sawant argues that the Speaker's decision is unconstitutional as no merger of the original political party was initiated or approved by party president Uddhav Thackeray.
The six rebel MPs claimed they constituted the requisite two-thirds of the legislature party under the Tenth Schedule, justifying the merger.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal has also filed a separate writ petition challenging the interpretation of Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule, arguing it enables splinter groups to avoid disqualification through mergers.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India, Shiv Sena(UBT) leader Arvind Sawant, six rebel Shiv Sena(UBT) MPs
- What
- Supreme Court issued notices to the Lok Sabha Speaker's office and six rebel Shiv Sena(UBT) MPs over a plea challenging the Speaker's decision recognizing their merger with the Shinde faction.
- When
- Wednesday (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- New Delhi, India
- Why
- To challenge the Speaker's decision recognizing the merger of six rebel Shiv Sena(UBT) MPs with the Shinde faction under the anti-defection law.
Shiv Sena(UBT)
Shinde Faction
Merger Validity
Shiv Sena(UBT)
Argued that no merger of the original political party took place, and the Speaker's decision is unconstitutional.
Shinde Faction
Claimed they constituted the requisite two-thirds of the legislature party under the Tenth Schedule, justifying the merger.
- Petitioner
- Arvind Sawant
- Respondents
- Lok Sabha Speaker's office, six rebel Shiv Sena(UBT) MPs
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Judges
- Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe
- Next Hearing
- After two weeks
- Anti-Defection Law
- Tenth Schedule of the Constitution
Sources
Supreme Court issues notice to six rebel Shiv Sena(UBT) MPs over merger with Shinde faction
SC to hear Sena (UBT) plea against Om Birla’s approval of MPs’ merger with Shinde-led faction
Supreme Court seeks Lok Sabha Speaker’s response on Sena (UBT) MPs merger
SC Issues Notice to Lok Sabha Speaker on Sena MPs’ Merger
SC seeks Speaker Om Birla’s response on recognising merger of six Sena (UBT) MPs with Sena (Shinde)
