New Delhi, 22 July (H.S.): The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to grant an immediate stay on the Lok Sabha Speaker's decision recognising the merger of six Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.

A Bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha issued notice to the Lok Sabha Secretariat and directed it to file its response within two weeks.

According to the petition filed by the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, the Lok Sabha Speaker recognised the merger of six of its MPs with a rival political party, raising what it described as a constitutional issue. The petition stated that the Speaker granted recognition to the merger on the night of July 18.

Following the merger of the six MPs, the strength of the Eknath Shinde-led faction in the Lok Sabha has increased to 13 members.

The petition further contended that the Lok Sabha Speaker's decision has disrupted the functioning of the party in Parliament.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar