SC Sets Four-Week Timeline for ECI to Proceed With AITC Name, Symbol Dispute

NEW DELHI, Sep 28 : The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to proceed with the dispute over the name and election symbol of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), involving the factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana 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.

The direction came while the bench was hearing Mamata Banerjee's plea challenging the ECI's interim decision to freeze the AITC name and its 'Flowers & Grass' symbol amid the factional dispute.

The ECI submitted that resolving symbol disputes involving a large number of affidavits takes considerable time. The bench, however, suggested the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to expedite the process.

Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Kalyan Bandhopadhyay, appearing for the Mamata Banerjee faction, submitted that their side had filed its responses in July, while the rival faction was yet to file its counter-responses.

The Court's direction is aimed at ensuring that the pleadings are completed within the four-week period before the ECI proceeds further with the dispute under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.