SC gives NDA govt 4 weeks to clarify stand on leader of Opposition issue

Earlier, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had denied the Congress the position, saying it fell short of 10% rule

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the government to inform it of its plan to deal with the Leader of Opposition issue. 

 

The apex court has given the NDA government 4 weeks to respond. 

 

Earlier this week, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had rejected the Congress party’s plea to be nominated as Leader of Opposition (LOP), saying it did not have the minimum 10% of total seats required for the status. 

 

"I have gone by rules and tradition," she said of on her decision at the time. She had reportedly also taken the opinion of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi who said the Congress did not have numbers so its floor leader could not be granted the status. 

 

 

Mahajan is said to have cited precedents in 1980 and 1984 when there was no leader of opposition.

(ALSO READ: House can change rules regarding LoP)

 

The Congress party is the single largest opposition party in the lower House with 44 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, but is short of the 10% mark of 55 sitting members. 

 

"A Speaker is supposed to follow rules. I have to go by rules. There are 'Directions of the Speaker' which mandate 10% strength for a party in Lok Sabha to be recognised as Leader of the Opposition,” Mahajan said in defence of her decision.

 

"If anybody wants a change in them, then a committee can be formed to look into them. But I need to follow the rules. I cannot do any thing on this," she said.