New Delhi, Aug. 12 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday examined whether the Election Commission of India (ECI) can rely on subsequent political developments and organisational support while deciding a Paragraph 15 dispute over a party's election symbol.

Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 empowers the ECI to decide disputes when rival groups or factions of a recognised political party claim the party's name and election symbol. The decision of the Commission is binding on all rival sections.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing the Uddhav Thackeray faction's challenge to the ECI's recognition of the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the "real...