India, Aug. 26 -- justify;">The Lok Sabha Secretariat has issued notices to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs and sought their replies within seven days on petitions filed by TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection law.

The notices, dated August 25, forwarded a copy of Banerjee's petition dated June 18 filed against the MPs, who joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), under Rule 6 of the Members of Lok Sabha (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985.

A notice, issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat read, "You are requested to kindly furnish your comments on the petition in terms of rule 7(3) of the same rule within seven days of the receipt of this letter for consi...