Maharashtra Political Crisis: PIL in Bombay High Court seeks directive to Eknath Shinde, rebel MLAs to return to Maharashtra

A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed before the Bombay High Court seeking a directive to rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and ministers led by Eknath Shinde to immediately return to the State from Guwahati where they are currently camped [Utpal Chandawar vs Eknath Shinde].The PIL filed through advocates Asim Sarode and Ajinkya Udane has also sought appropriate action against the rebel MLAs for showing disrespect to public rights and good governance.The plea was mentioned today before a bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Makarand Karnik, which said it would hear the matter soon."The dirty politics at the cost of displaying to the nation and the state that a group of political leaders and a bunch of elected representatives or a political party is willing to go to any lengths to grab power and teach it's rivals a lesson. This isn't good for democracy. Citizens haven't elected the leaders for such political drama and neglecting public rights," the petition said..The PIL maintained that it has nothing to do with the revolt of any political leader or party but is only concerned with the constant political instability in the State, which creates a sense of insecurity among citizens.Referring to section 268 of the Indian Penal Code, which penalises public nuisance, the petition claimed that the ongoing "political nuisance" cannot be excused as this too affects the public.Thus, the Court should decide this 'question of law' in the background of the rebel by the Sena MLAs and the effect of the same.Pertinently, the plea asked how the rebel MLAs were footing the expense of staying at lavish hotels and taking chartered planes for their travel."At Surat, it is reported that they were residing at Le Meridian and in Guwahati they are residing at Radisson Blue Hotel. It has been revealed from various news reports and videos that all the ministers and MLAs have travelled by chartered plane. It is expedient for the citizens to know how elected representatives of people are spending such huge amounts and whether they are using money from public funds to travel in chartered planes and reside at lavish five star hotels," the plea said..Further, the petition said that among the rebel MLAs most are sitting ministers including the cabinet minister Eknath Shinde, who holds the Urban Development Department (UDD)."The ministers are duty-bound to uphold constitutional morality in their behaviour and work for the good of the citizens. However, it is unfortunate, that during the rainy season, when most urban areas face several issues, the UDD minister has ran away from his constitutional responsibility along with 37 MLAs. Such conduct interferes with the rights of the public," the PIL stated.It further points out that the present season is very much crucial for the farmers and a slew of decisions are to be taken by the concerned Agriculture minister but unfortunately the incumbent minister Dada Bhuse is in Guwahati.