The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee seeking expeditious disposal of disqualification petitions pending before the Lok Sabha Speaker against 20 rebel party MPs who have aligned with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). The court issued notices to the lawmakers and listed the matter for hearing on August 28.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took up the matter after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Banerjee, sought an urgent hearing. The court, however, declined to issue notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker's office and the secretary-general of the House after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said he was representing them.

Separately, the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Tuesday issued notices to the 20 rebel TMC MPs, seeking their replies within seven days on Banerjee's disqualification petitions. The notices, dated August 25, forwarded copies of the petitions filed under Rule 6 of the Members of Lok Sabha (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985.

The development comes amid a dispute within the TMC parliamentary party after the 20 MPs announced they had joined or merged with the NCPI, a Tripura-based political outfit, and sought separate recognition in the House. TMC MP Mahua Moitra alleged on X that there was a cover-up, saying the party had filed 20 disqualification petitions and that the Speaker had done nothing except give the rebel MPs better seats. She also referenced Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's statement in court, the details of which were not fully stated in available reports.