Supreme Court Issues Notice to 20 Rebel TMC MPs Over Disqualification Plea

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs over a petition filed by TMC general secretary and Lok Sabha leader Abhishek Banerjee. The petition challenges the delay in deciding disqualification proceedings against the lawmakers. Banerjee has asked the court to direct Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to take an early decision on the pending petitions. The case concerns MPs who allegedly left the TMC after winning elections on the party’s ticket. The Supreme Court’s notice seeks responses from the lawmakers named in Banerjee’s petition. The development has brought the issue of their alleged defection before the country’s highest court. The petition argues that the prolonged delay has prevented a timely decision on their status as members of Parliament. The court’s intervention could now push the disqualification proceedings forward. The case also places renewed focus on the Speaker’s role in deciding such petitions.

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Supreme Court Speaker Om Birla Not Served Notice

The Supreme Court did not issue a notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who appeared as the first respondent in Banerjee’s petition. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that he would represent the Speaker in the proceedings. Mehta also informed the court that he had instructions regarding the matter. According to the Solicitor General, the Speaker had already issued notices concerning the disqualification petitions. The submission came during the hearing as the court considered Banerjee’s plea seeking faster action. The court therefore proceeded with notices to the 20 MPs named as respondents. The development clarified that the Speaker would respond through the Solicitor General rather than receive a separate notice from the court. The case will now involve responses from the rebel lawmakers and further consideration of the issues raised by Banerjee. The proceedings could determine the next steps in the pending disqualification matter.

The petition names several prominent Trinamool Congress leaders among the 20 respondents facing the Supreme Court’s notice. The list includes Sayani Ghosh, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Satabdi Roy. Other respondents include Prasun Banerjee, Arup Chakraborty, Deepak Dev Adhikari and Yusuf Pathan. Banerjee has challenged the delay in deciding the disqualification petitions against these lawmakers. The respondents allegedly changed their political affiliation after securing election victories on TMC tickets. Their inclusion in the petition means they must now respond to the allegations and proceedings before the Supreme Court. The case has attracted attention because several senior political figures feature among the lawmakers named. The Supreme Court’s notice gives the respondents an opportunity to present their position on the disqualification issue. Their responses could become important as the court considers whether the pending proceedings require further judicial intervention.

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Petition Challenges Delay in Disqualification Proceedings

Abhishek Banerjee filed the petition after the disqualification proceedings against the 20 MPs remained pending before the Lok Sabha Speaker. He has asked the Supreme Court to ensure that the matter receives an expeditious decision. The petition focuses on the alleged delay rather than directly seeking a declaration of disqualification from the court. Banerjee has argued that the authorities should address the petitions within a reasonable timeframe. The matter relates to lawmakers who allegedly defected after contesting and winning elections on TMC tickets. The rebel MPs reportedly moved towards the Nationalist Citizens Party of India after the election results were announced in May. The rebel group has also sought recognition as a separate parliamentary group in the Lok Sabha. Their political status has therefore become central to the dispute. The Supreme Court’s intervention could now bring greater scrutiny to the pending proceedings and the timeline for deciding them.

The 20 lawmakers allegedly joined the relatively lesser-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India after winning elections as TMC candidates. Their move followed the announcement of election results in May, according to the petition. The rebel camp has also sought recognition as a separate group within the Lok Sabha. The development has created a political and legal dispute over their parliamentary status. Abhishek Banerjee has challenged the delay in deciding the disqualification petitions filed against the MPs. The Supreme Court has now sought responses from the lawmakers as it examines the plea. The case could have wider implications for parliamentary defections and the process followed for deciding disqualification petitions. The court’s notice does not itself determine whether the MPs will face disqualification. Their responses and the Speaker’s handling of the pending proceedings will remain important in the next stage of the case. The matter is expected to receive further judicial consideration after the respondents submit their replies.

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