Lok Sabha Secretariat notices 20 rebel TMC MPs over disqualification petitions

The Lok Sabha Secretariat has issued notices to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs seeking their responses within seven days to petitions filed by TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection law.

The notices, dated August 25, enclosed copies of Banerjee’s June 18 petitions against the MPs, who joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). The notices were issued under Rule 6 of the Members of Lok Sabha (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985.

The Secretariat asked the MPs to submit their comments within seven days for consideration by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Banerjee had filed individual petitions against all 20 MPs in June, seeking their disqualification under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

The development comes a day after the Supreme Court sought a response from Speaker Om Birla on Banerjee’s plea seeking an early decision on the disqualification petitions.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, said the issue was not simply whether notices had been issued but whether the disqualification proceedings would be completed.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Speaker, told the court that notices had already been issued to all 20 MPs.

Ahead of the monsoon session, the Lok Sabha Secretariat had allotted separate seating to the rebel MPs. However, they officially remain TMC members as their plea to merge with NCPI is still under consideration.

A senior official said issuing notices was the first step in the disqualification process and indicated that the matter was unlikely to be resolved quickly.