Amid mergers, Sibal urges SC to interpret law on defection curbs

Senior advocate and MP Kapil Sibal personally petitioned the Supreme Court seeking interpretation of the anti-defection law to curb illegal defections and mergers.

Sibal's petition focuses on the interpretation of the 10th Schedule's fourth paragraph, which permits mergers, and challenges how Parliament's composition can change through defections.

The Supreme Court agreed to list Sibal's petition for urgent hearing on Monday.

Shiv Sena (UBT) also moved a petition questioning the Lok Sabha Speaker's decision to allow the merger of six of its nine MPs with rival Sena party led by Eknath Shinde.

Sibal's petition cited instances of defection and merger affecting Shiv Sena (UBT) and Trinamool Congress.