India, July 23 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to grant interim relief to the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's decision recognising the merger of six of its MPs with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena but agreed to examine the legality of the move by issuing notice on the party's petition.

A bench of justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe declined to stay the Speaker's circular reflecting the revised party strength in Lok Sabha for the time being, despite Sena (UBT)'s contention that the decision had paralysed its functioning during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament. The court agreed to hear the challenge and sought responses from the officer of the Speaker and the six MPs.

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