New Delhi, August 25 (TNA) The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to 20 Trinamool Congress MPs who are accused of defecting and merging with the little-known NCPI, after a petition filed by TMC general secretary and Lok Sabha leader Abhishek Banerjee. Banerjee has sought an expeditious decision from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on the party’s disqualification petitions against the MPs.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana heard the matter and asked for a response from the rebel MPs, while also taking note of the TMC’s plea for time-bound action under the anti-defection law. The petition has been filed under Article 32, challenging the alleged delay in deciding the pending disqualification proceedings.
According to reports, the TMC contends that the 20 MPs have aligned themselves with the NCPI and joined the NDA, and that the Speaker should decide the disqualification issue without further delay. The court also heard that notices had already been issued to all 20 MPs on the disqualification petitions filed by the party.
Abhishek Banerjee’s plea seeks directions to Speaker Om Birla to conclude the proceedings expeditiously and uphold the anti-defection provisions of the Constitution. The matter is being closely watched because it could determine the status of the 20 lawmakers in the House.