Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, in response to the Supreme Court directive on the issue of disqualification of Sena MLAs, said that he will never disrespect the judiciary and will take his decision on the basis of the rules of the state legislature. “Those who believe in parliamentary democracy and the Constitution of India will never disrespect the orders or instructions given by the institution which is based on the Constitution. Hence I wish to assure that there would not be disrespect or contempt of any instructions or orders given by the court. Not from my side at all. But still when I am working as Speaker of the state Assembly, maintaining the sovereignty of the legislature is my duty. And hence I will have to take the decision according to the principle of natural justice, rules of legislature and provisions of the Constitution,” Narvekar said. Narvekar also said that he has not received the order copy yet and he would speak about it once he goes through the copy. He also reiterated that he will neither delay nor hurry the procedure and as “justice delayed is justice denied”, in a similar manner “justice hurried is buried”. “I will follow the provisions of the Constitution and will neither delay nor hurry the process,” Narvekar said. “I will never do anything for which the court will hold me in contempt. I will always follow the orders. I will take the decision while following the provisions of Constitution, rules and laws and principle of natural justice. Even I don't think that court wants me to not abide by these principles and laws and whatever the court would instruct I will surely follow it. I will take necessary legal opinion on the issue or the observations made by the court and accordingly the further course of action will be taken," he said. Meanwhile, targetting the Speaker after the Supreme Court passed strictures on Narvekar, Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut said the he deserves the harsh words of the court and at least now he should take the decision on the disqualification. "We feel that the Speaker deserves the harsh words. He does not take the Constitution, laws and rules of India seriously. An unconstitutional government is sitting in Maharashtra due to the decisions taken by the Assembly Speaker. This is what the Supreme Court has repeatedly said. It is better if the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha and his bosses now learn from the strictures passed by SC and take wisdom from this,” Raut said. “The (Speaker ) has no concern about defections (of the MLAs from NCP and Shiv Sena) and the unconstitutional government. There is an order of Delhi (BJP-led centre) to save this unconstitutional state government (led by Shinde and BJP). But, a person sitting on a constitutional post should keep to his limits," Raut said. Sena UBT MP Arvind Sawant said that the SC has given a tight slap to the Speaker and the party welcomes it. "The Speaker was unnecessarily delaying the procedure. At least now he should take the decision immediately," Sawant told the media.
