SC sets 4-month timeline for ECI to decide AITC name, symbol dispute

New Delhi. Sep 28 (UNI)The Supreme Court on Monday set a four-week timeline for the Election Commission of India (ECI) to proceed with the election symbol dispute in the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) between the Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee factions under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

The Court directed both sides to file their affidavits and counter-affidavits within four weeks, making it clear that the pleadings in the matter should be completed within the stipulated period. A bench comprising CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the direction while hearing Mamata Banerjee's plea challenging the ECI's interim decision to freeze the AITC name and its 'Flowers & Grass' symbol amid a factional dispute.

The Court's direction followed the ECI's submission that symbol disputes involving large numbers of affidavits take time. The bench suggested the use of AI tools to expedite the process. Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Kalyan Bandhopadhyay submitted that the Mamata Banerjee faction had filed its responses in July, while the rival faction was yet to file its counter-responses.

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