Last 5 years' experience in Maha politics has really been 'vibrant', says top court

NEW DELHI: Even though Supreme Court was adjudicating a case relating to alleged defection of BRS MLAs in Telangana, political developments in Maharashtra over the last five year kept popping up during the hearing.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and A G Masih kept referring to political developments in Maharashtra in a lighter vein, indirectly referring to the split in the two major state parties - Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party. Justice Masih observed that India was one of the most vibrant democracies in the world and in a split second, Justice Gavai quipped with a smile, "And the experience in Maharashtra in the last five years has really been vibrant."

Later on, referring to the 10th schedule which is meant to prevent defection in political parties, Justice Gavai said it was meant to stop 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram'. He said this phrase came from Justice Masih's state. In the same breath, he added, "But our state (Maharashtra) stands on the highest pedestal and it has surpassed all."

The phrase 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram' refers to repeated defections by politicians and was coined after an MLA in Haryana switched parties thrice in two weeks in 1967. Justice Masih's home HC is Punjab and Haryana HC.