SC notice on BJP seeking Leader of Opposition status in BMC

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the Maharashtra Government and Mumbai Mayor on a petition by Bhartiya Janata Party corporator Prabhakar Tukaram Shinde, seeking the status of Leader of Opposition (LoP) to his party in the Shiv Sena-led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) or Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai on the ground that it is the second largest party.

Shinde has come to the Apex Court challenging the Bombay High Court's verdict on September 21, rejecting his plea and holding Ravi Raja of the Congress to continue as LoP, as appointed in 2017. Chief Justice of India Shard Arvind Bobde, heading a 3-judge Bench, was surprised a bit when senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Shinde, told the court that the Congress enjoyed the status of the leader of Opposition despite being a part of the ruling coalition. "How can Opposition leader be part of a ruling coalition," he shot back and listed the case for hearing on February 8, ordering notices returnable in 15 days and asking the respondents to file couter affidavit, if any. Two other judges on the Bench were Justices A S Bopanna and V ramasubramanian.

Besides the Maharashtra Government, BMC commissioner and the Mayor, Congress leader Ravi Raja, who is the LOP, has been also made a respondent in the special leave petition.