SC to hear on July 31 Uddhav Thackeray's plea against EC order allotting party name, symbol to Shinde faction

The Supreme Court Monday agreed to hear on July 31 Uddhav Thackerays plea against the Election Commissions order allotting the name Shiv Sena and the undivided partys bow and arrow election symbol to the Eknath Shinde factionA bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha said the matter was listed for hearing after advocate Amit Anand Tiwari sought its urgent listingIt is listed on July 31 we will hear it on that day the bench said and allowed Tiwari to file a rejoinder to the reply submitted by the Shinde factionThe top court had on February 22 sought the response of the Shinde faction and the Election Commission on Uddhav Thackerays pleaIn his application Thackeray said the matter required urgent hearing as the impugned order is completely illegal in view of the recent Constitution bench judgment of the top court pronounced on May 11The apex court in a unanimous judgment had held the then Maharashtra Governor B S Koshyaris direction to Thackeray for a trust vote was illegal It however said the court cannot reinstate Uddhav Thackeray as the chief minister because he had resigned instead of facing the trust voteSpeaking to reporters in Amravati Thackeray said on Monday the Election Commission EC can allot an electoral symbol to a party but it does not have powers to change the name of a partyFurther elections are imminent and respondent No 1 Shinde is illegally using the party name and symbol the application seeking urgent listing of the matter saidIt said on February 22 while issuing notice in the matter the top court had directed it to be listed after three weeks However it did not get listedOn February 17 the Election Commission had allotted the name Shiv Sena and its poll symbol bow and arrow to the group led by the now Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath ShindeIn a jolt to the Uddhav Thackeray camp the apex court had on February 22 refused to stay the Election Commissions order recognising the Shindeled bloc as the real Shiv SenaThe top court while issuing notice to the Shinde group on the appeal against the poll panels decision had permitted the Thackeray faction to use the name Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and a flaming torch as poll symbol in state byelections scheduled for February 26Pending further orders the protection on use of party name and flaming torch symbol which has been granted in paragraph 133 IV of the impugned order of the Election Commission dated Feb 17 2023 shall continue to remain in operation the bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had ordered on February 22It however had not granted any relief to the Thackeray camp despite its vehement submissions that the assets of the party and its bank accounts be saved from being taken over by the Shinde factionThe apex court while refusing to grant the interim relief of status quo on properties and bank accounts had said though it was entertaining Thackerays plea it cannot stay an order at this stage as they have succeeded before the ECThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever