Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Sitaram Zariwal denied in the Supreme Court any irregularity in giving 48 hours' time to then MLA and now Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and 15 legislators of his camp to respond to disqualification notices issued for defection.
The response from Mr. Zariwal came in petitions filed by Mr. Shinde and the other MLAs in the top court, challenging the disqualification proceedings.
Mr. Zariwal said the time for responses to disqualification notices was purely discretionary. "There is absolutely no illegality in the 48 hours being given to the petitioners (Mr. Shinde and others) to respond to the disqualification petitions," he submitted.
