SC stops short of fixing time limit for Speaker Birla in disqualification proceedings against TMC rebel MPs
The Supreme Court of India has declined to set a strict timeline for Speaker Om Birla to resolve disqualification proceedings against 20 rebel TMC MPs. The court has instead granted the MPs four weeks to file their replies to the pending petitions.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing tension between judicial oversight and the autonomy of the Speaker's office in handling anti-defection laws in Indian politics.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) stopped short of requiring Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to give a specific time line for completing the disqualification proceedings pending against 20 rebel Trinamool Congress party MPs who have aligned themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).
A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant was hearing a plea filed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee contending that Speaker Birla was delaying disqualification proceedings under the anti-defection law.
Mr. Banerjee has sought a time-bound decision on the disqualification of the rebel MPs.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Speaker, urged the court to “not fix the Speaker’s schedule”.
This was after Justice Joymalya Bagchi, who is part of the Bench, asked Mr. Mehta to submit a timeline on the disqualification proceedings.
“The Supreme Court monitoring is not necessary,” Mr. Mehta stressed.
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