Delay in disqualifying rebel TMC MPs: SC seeks reply to plea by Abhishek Banerjee against Speaker's inaction

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice on a plea by Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament (MP) Abhishek Banerjee against delay by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in deciding disqualification petitions filed by him against 20 rebel MPs who left TMC and joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notice to the rebel MPs and sought their responses but refrained from issuing notice to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, the main respondent in the matter.

Around 20 MPs who had won on TMC ticket had defected to the relatively unknown NCPI in June this year after rebelling against the leadership of party supremo Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee.

This was immediately after TMC lost the assembly elections in West Bengal which led to discontent within the party.

When the plea by Banerjee came up for hearing on Tuesday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government, requested the Court not to issue notice to the Lok Sabha speaker.

"I have some reservations about issuing notice to the Speaker," he said.

"We are not to pass any order against a constitutional authority, but to ensure that it is done in a timely manner. That is the most important," Justice Bagchi said.

"Yes. Other respondents are there," the CJI said.

"Why no notice to speaker?" Banerjee asked.

"Are you interested in adjudication of the issue or notice," Justice Bagchi demanded.

[Read Live Coverage]