New Delhi/IBNS, Aug. 25 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs in a petition seeking their disqualification from the Lok Sabha over their alleged defection from the party.

The petition was filed by TMC general secretary and Lok Sabha leader Abhishek Banerjee, who has challenged the alleged delay in deciding the party's disqualification petitions against the MPs.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi heard the matter and issued notices to the 20 MPs.

The case centres on the MPs' decision to join or merge with the National Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a political outfit based in Tripura, and subsequently align themselves with...