The Maharashtra legislature on Tuesday stated that it will not take cognizance of the Supreme Court stay order on the Shobhaa De issue.
The Maharashtra legislature on Tuesday stated that it will not take cognizance of the Supreme Court stay order on the Shobhaa De issue. Earlier on the day, the apex court stayed the privilege motion notice issued to the socialite and writer by the Maharashtra assembly after she tweeted on the state government's proposed order mandating screening of Marathi films during the prime time slots in multiplexes.
Maharashtra legislature principal secretary Anant Kalse said they will not accept any notice from courts and the state government will decide the stand to be taken on the issue.
The legislature had served a notice on De seeking her position after a breach of privilege motion was initiated against her by Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik during the recent budget session. This was a fallout of De's tweets on a micro-blogging platform which were critical of the government order. De had tweeted: "No more popcorn at multiplexes in Mumbai? Dahi misal and vada pav only. To go better with the Marathi movies at prime time."
De had approached the apex court challenging the notice, issued by the principal secretary of Maharashtra legislature under the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Rules on April 10, asking her to explain her position by Tuesday.
While staying the notice, a bench headed by justice Dipak Misra issued notices to the principal secretary and Sarnaik, directing them to respond to her plea within eight weeks.
The court passed the order after senior advocate CA Sundaram, appearing for De, submitted that "comments were made against the decision of the government and it does not breach any privilege of the assembly."
Referring to De's tweets, the counsel said: "Such writings in no way amounted either to an attempt to obstruct or hinder the proceedings of the House. It was nothing more than fair comment on a legislation being mooted by the state government."
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