India, Sept. 16 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday resumed final hearing on pleas challenging the Maharashtra Speaker's refusal to disqualify MLAs of the Eknath Shinde-led camp of the Shiv Sena, with the faction defending the Election Commission's decision to recognise it as "real" Shiv Sena.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana is also hearing a challenge by the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction to the Election Commission's February 17, 2023, order allotting the Shiv Sena name and its 'bow-and-arrow' election symbol to the Shinde camp.

Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for the Shinde-led faction, said the Election Commission was within its jurisdiction under Article 324 of t...