The Supreme Court on Monday said it expected West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathin Bose to adhere to the three-month deadline fixed by the court for deciding petitions seeking the disqualification of 10 rebel TMC MLAs.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana made the observation while hearing a plea by TMC MLA Sohandeb Chattopadhyay, who sought an early decision on the disqualification petitions.
"We have every reason to believe that the speaker is fully cognisant of the decision of this court and he will make an endeavour to take an appropriate decision within the time-frame fixed," the bench said.
The court noted that the three-month deadline in the matter expires on October 10 and disposed of Chattopadhyay's plea.
Chattopadhyay had approached Speaker Bose seeking the disqualification of 10 MLAs, alleging that they had acted against the interests of the party.
In a separate case, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission to decide the dispute between the two rival factions over the party name and "flowers and grass" election symbol.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked the rival factions to complete their pleadings in the proceedings before the poll panel within four weeks.
The bench directed the Election Commission to decide the issue within three months after the parties complete their pleadings.
The top court passed the order while hearing a plea filed by former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee against the EC's decision to freeze the TMC's name and party symbol.
The Election Commission had allotted separate names and symbols to the two rival factions following its interim decision to bar both groups from using the 'All India Trinamool Congress' name and its reserved symbol pending a substantive determination of the dispute.
In its interim order, the poll panel, after hearing leaders of the two factions led by Banerjee and Arup Roy, said the matter requires substantive determination by the poll body under provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968.
Assembly bypolls to Nandigram in East Medinipur district and Rejinagar in Murshidabad district of West Bengal are scheduled for October 6, with vote counting on October 9.
(With inputs from PTI)