Lagatar24 desk
New Delhi, June 29: ‘The floor of the House’ is the only way to settle these issues of democracy, said the Supreme Court on Wednesday while hearing Shiv Sena chief lash Sunil Prabhu’s plea against Maharashtra Governor’s direction to Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to take a floor test in the Assembly on Thursday.
A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala asked senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for Prabhu, how can floor test impact the disqualification process or interfere with the powers of the speaker to conduct disqualification proceeding.
“Our understanding is that floor of the house is the only way to settle these issues of democracy,” the bench stated.
Singhvi informed the SC that people who have changed sides do not reflect the will of people and heavens won’t fall if the floor test is not held on Thursday.
He further argued that the court must not allow a floor test to be held till the deputy speaker decides on the disqualification petition against some rebel MLAs.
Singhvi told the bench that the order to conduct a floor test at a ‘supersonic speed’ will lead to putting the cart before the horse.
He added that the two MLAs of the NCP are down with COVID-19 while two MLAs of the Congress are abroad and are asked to participate in the floor test on Thursday.
He argued that allowing floor tests would mean making Tenth Schedule a “dead letter”. The bench observed that the Tenth schedule is a robust provision and the court should strengthen it.
