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New Delhi : On Tuesday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a petition filed by Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, seeking a directive to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for an early decision on disqualification petitions against 20 rebel MPs who have joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued notices to the 20 MPs regarding Banerjee’s plea. The Court declined to issue notices to the Lok Sabha Speaker’s office and the House Secretary-General, as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated he was present to represent them.
The Supreme Court is also hearing a similar petition from the Shiv Sena (UBT), challenging the Speaker’s approval of the merger of six party MPs into the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. A bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe is hearing that matter.
In his petition, Banerjee challenges the alleged delay in deciding on the disqualification proceedings initiated against the MPs. The TMC leader has sought a directive for the Speaker to decide on the disqualification petitions in accordance with the anti-defection provisions of the Constitution. He had previously filed separate petitions against the 20 MPs and later urged the Speaker to expedite their disposal.
According to reports, after sending a written reminder on July 27, he also met Birla on August 12 to discuss the issue. The dispute arose following a rebellion within the TMC parliamentary party, when 20 of its Lok Sabha MPs announced that they had joined or merged with the Tripura-based political organization NCPI and sought separate recognition in the House. The TMC maintains that the MPs were elected on its party symbol and that their decision to join another political organization amounts to voluntarily giving up party membership, which could attract disqualification proceedings under the anti-defection law. However, the rebel faction asserts that their move constitutes a valid merger.
Report – Abhijit Tushar Bhatt (Political Editor)
