India, Aug. 13 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it will have to first see whether there had been a split in the Shiv Sena, as such a division may originate in the legislature party and the fissure can percolate into the organisation and the primary membership.

The observations were made by a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana during the final hearing on the pleas by the Uddhav Thackeray faction to the Election Commission's decision recognising the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the original Shiv Sena and allotting it the party's name and the "bow and arrow" symbol.

During the hearing on the fourth day, Justice Bagchi said, "First, we have to see whether there is a split. A split ...