New Delhi, July 22 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and others on a plea of Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) challenging his decision to recognise the merger of six rebel MPs with the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe declined to immediately stay the merger while issuing notices to the Lok Sabha Speaker, its Secretary and six rebel MPs who merged with Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

It sought response from respondents and posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.

Senior advocate Devdutt Kamat, appearing for UBT Shiv Sena, told the bench that the issue raises important questions of constitutional morality and p...