BJP MLAs suspension: SC issues notice to Maha govt

One-liner: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and others on the pleas filed by 12 BJP MLAs, who have challenged their one-year suspension from the Assembly for allegedly misbehaving with the presiding officer.

Bench to hear petitions: A bench agreed to hear the batch of petitions and issued formal notices to the respondents, including the state of Maharashtra, seeking their responses on the pleas.

• The apex court observed that issues raised in the matter and arguments advanced by the advocates appearing for the petitioners as well as the state are debatable and require deeper consideration

Winter session of Assembly: The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi govt led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is slated to hold the Winter session of the state Assembly between Dec 22 and 28 in Mumbai.

• The motion to suspend these MLAs was moved by state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anil Parab and passed by a voice vote

Fadnavis counters allegations: Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis had termed the allegation as false and an attempt to reduce the numbers of opposition benches because they had exposed the govt's falsehood on the OBC quota.