Supreme Court | Delhi/Hyderabad, Sept. 24: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission of India to provide a timeframe for deciding the dispute over the Trinamool Congress name and election symbol.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, heard the matter.
The case concerns Mamata Banerjee’s challenge to the ECI’s interim decision to freeze the All India Trinamool Congress name and its “Flowers and Grass” symbol.
The court said the proceedings should give both factions a fair opportunity to present evidence without being unnecessarily prolonged.
Supreme Court Seeks Reasonable Timeline From ECI
The Supreme Court asked the poll panel to suggest a realistic timeframe for completing the proceedings.
The court also said the ECI should have sufficient time to examine the evidence before taking a final decision.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 28.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mamata Banerjee, said the plea was not seeking a stay on the by-elections.
Instead, he urged the court to ensure that the ECI decides the dispute expeditiously.
Sibal questioned the timing of the ECI’s interim order, arguing that the dispute had reached the poll panel earlier.
He said the order was issued after the by-election process had already begun.
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction has argued that the ECI could have issued the order earlier, allowing it to seek judicial relief before the elections.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, said his side was ready to cooperate with the ECI proceedings.
Rohatgi, however, opposed setting an October deadline and sought adequate time for presenting evidence.
Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul also submitted that the dispute involved complex factual questions requiring affidavits and evidence from both sides.
The ECI had issued its interim arrangement on September 17 after rival factions claimed control of the party.
Under the arrangement, neither faction can use the original party name and “Flowers and Grass” symbol for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly by-elections.
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