Supreme Court Issues Notices Over Rebel TMC MP Disqualifications

The Supreme Court of India issued notices on August 25 to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs and the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha. The court action follows a petition by TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who alleged that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla delayed disqualification proceedings under the anti-defection law.

The dispute centers on 20 lawmakers who merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a Tripura-based outfit, and subsequently supported the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in parliamentary activities. The TMC argues these MPs voluntarily relinquished their party membership, which warrants disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. However, the rebel faction, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, maintains the move was a valid merger.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued against issuing a notice to Speaker Birla, citing the Speaker's status as a Constitutional authority. The petition follows previous attempts by Banerjee to resolve the matter through written reminders and a meeting with the Speaker on August 12. This case arrives amid broader legal challenges to the anti-defection law, including a separate plea by lawyer Kapil Sibal seeking a reinterpretation of merger provisions.