The Supreme Court on Monday urged the Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly to decide by October 8 the petitions filed by Trinamool Congress (Mamata Banerjee) member Sohandeb Chattopadhyay seeking the disqualification of ten MLAs of the Ritabrata Banerjee faction under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution for alleged defection.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana disposed of the writ petition filed by Sohandeb Chattopadhyay seeking expeditious decision by the Speaker.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, for the petitioner, submitted that there was a pattern of delaying decisions on disqualification petitions, and the breakaway faction consequently getting a declaration that they were the real party.

The bench said that it will dispose of the petition urging the Speaker to follow the decision in Keisham Meghachandra Singh v The Hon'ble Speaker Manipur Legislative Assembly and others which held that disqualification petitions must be decided within three months.

Noting that the disqualification petitions were filed on July 8, 2026, the Court expressed that the Speaker is expected to take a decision by October 8, 2026.

The bench observed in the order as follows :

"This Court in Keshaj Meghamchandra Singh has authoritatively ruled that disqualification petitions are expected to be decided within a reasonable period, say three months.

In the case in hand, the period of 3 months will expire on 8 October, 2026. We have every reason to believe that the Speaker of the State Assembly is fully cognizant of the principles laid down by this Court, and will make all endeavour to take an appropriate decision within [the said period]"

The petitions were filed against Arup Roy, Ritabrata Banerjee, Firad Hakim, Sandipan Saha, Seuli Saha, Akrhruzzaman, Sabina Yeasmin, Rathin Ghosh, Biplab Mitra, and Javed Ahmad Khan.

Senior Advocate Kalyan Bandhopadhyay, AOR Preetika Dwivedi appeared for the petitioner.

Case : SOHANDEB CHATTOPADHYAY Vs HONBLE SPEAKER WEST BENGAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY | W.P.(C) No. 1192/2026