New Delhi, August 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs on a plea filed by party general secretary and Lok Sabha leader Abhishek Banerjee, challenging the alleged delay in deciding disqualification petitions against them.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued notices to the 20 MPs but refrained from issuing notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Speaker and the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha, urged the court not to issue notice to the Speaker. He informed the Bench that the Speaker had already issued notices to the 20 MPs on the disqualification petitions filed by the Trinamool Congress.
Mehta said he had instructions to inform the court about the development and would appear on behalf of the Speaker. Justice Bagchi observed that the issue was not merely about issuing notices but about ensuring that the proceedings were concluded within a reasonable timeframe.
Senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee appeared for Abhishek Banerjee, who has challenged the alleged delay in deciding the disqualification petitions filed under the anti-defection law.
The 20 MPs named in the proceedings are Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Satabdi Roy, Prasun Banerjee, Rachana Banerjee, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, Partha Bhowmick, Arup Chakraborty, Adhikari Deepak Dev, Sayani Ghosh, Bapi Haldar, Md Abu Taher Khan, Kalipada Saren Kherwal, Asit Kumar Mal, June Maliah, Mitali Bag, Khalilur Rahaman, Mala Roy, Sharmila Sarkar and Yusuf Pathan.
The dispute follows the breakaway of the 20 MPs from the TMC and their alignment with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). The rebel group has sought recognition as a separate parliamentary formation, while the TMC maintains that their move attracts disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
The rebels, however, have maintained that their move constitutes a valid merger. The political dispute intensified after separate seating arrangements were allotted to the 20 MPs in the Lok Sabha while the disqualification petitions remained pending.
Abhishek Banerjee had earlier approached Speaker Om Birla seeking expeditious disposal of the petitions. His latest plea before the Supreme Court seeks judicial intervention over the delay.
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