THE Supreme Court is slated to hear on Thursday Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee’s plea challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to freeze the party’s name and its reserved election symbol amid an ongoing dispute between rival factions. As per the Cause List published on the website of the apex court, a Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana will hear the matter on September 24. The case is listed at serial number 26 before the CJI-led Bench as a fresh civil case for admission. Mamata Banerjee has filed the plea against the ECI’s interim decision to freeze the name “All India Trinamool Congress” and its reserved “Flowers and Grass” election symbol amid the dispute between rival factions of the party. The petition names the Election Commission of India, its Secretary and rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee as respondents. On Monday, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mamata Banerjee, had sought urgent listing of the plea before CJI Surya Kant. “They (ECI) issue a by-poll notification and in the middle of the notification, they freeze the symbol. We want urgent listing,” he submitted.

 

At this, the CJI observed that the rival side would also have submissions to make and assured that the matter would be considered for listing. “Both sides will have something to say. When the matter is listed, then argue. We will try to list,” the CJI said. The plea was filed after the poll panel passed an interim order barring both factions from using the party’s existing name and election symbol, observing that two rival groups were claiming to be the recognised political party. The ECI had said that the dispute required a substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, and directed both groups to submit alternative names and symbols for the upcoming by-elections. The poll panel subsequently allotted the Mamata Banerjeeled faction the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the “football player” symbol, while the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the “envelope” symbol. The interim arrangement applies to the October 6 by-elections in West Bengal for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies.