Kolkat, Sept. 24 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission to indicate how quickly it can decide the dispute over the Trinamool Congress' original name and "Flowers & Grass" symbol, amid rival claims by factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, said the Commission should suggest a "reasonable" timeframe that would allow both sides a fair opportunity to present their cases without allowing the proceedings to drag on.
The court was hearing Mamata Banerjee's challenge to the ECI's September 17 interim arrangement, under which her faction was allotted the name "Mamata All India Trinamool Congress" and the 'Football Player' symbol. The Ritabrata faction was given "Democratic Trinamool Congress" and the Envelope symbol.
The urgency, the court noted, stems from the October 6 Bengal bypolls, where candidates from both factions have claimed the Trinamool identity in their nomination papers. Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that the notified election process could not now be disturbed.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mamata Banerjee, argued that the ECI had acted only after keeping the dispute pending for months, leaving his client with little scope for judicial remedy once the election process began. He sought a direction for a decision in October, also citing forthcoming local body polls.
Counsel for Ritabrata Banerjee opposed such a short deadline, citing the need for affidavits and evidence.
The court adjourned the matter to next week and asked the ECI to return with a proposed timeline.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.