New Delhi, Sept. 23 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday flagged as a "red flag" the three-month delay in deciding disqualification petitions against 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MPs, while stopping short of imposing a fixed deadline on Speaker Om Birla.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing a plea by TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee seeking expeditious disposal of 20 disqualification petitions filed before the Lok Sabha Speaker.

Justice Bagchi said the delay was significant as the outcome of the proceedings could have repercussions beyond the disqualification issue, including on other proceedings and the democratic process.

"There are cases and cases. A few months may be...