Delhi HC seeks EC's reply on plea of a party for election symbol for Bihar polls

In August, the judge sought the EC's response to another plea by the petitioner seeking permission to use a common election symbol for the upcoming Bihar polls.

The Delhi High Court on Monday sought ṭhe Election Commission's response on a plea by Akhil Bharatiya Jan Sangh seeking allotment of a poll symbol for the upcoming Bihar election.

The petitioner said the party was established in 1951 and renamed in 1979. It has been contesting elections throughout its existence. (HT File)

Justice Mini Pushkarna directed the poll body to file its response by October 9, when the court will further hear the matter.

The judge had, in August, sought the EC's response on another plea by the petitioner seeking permission to use a common election symbol for the upcoming Bihar assembly polls.

The judge was on Monday informed that the EC has refused the petitioner's request on the grounds of internal disputes in the party.

The court was told that the alleged dispute is "no longer material and one Sameer Singh Chandel has been expelled from the party and has no concerns with affairs of the party after expulsion".

The judge then issued notice to the EC on the issue.

The petitioner said the party was established in 1951 and renamed in 1979. It has been contesting elections throughout its existence besides applying from time to time for the election symbol from the EC in line with the relevant laws, the plea said.

The petitioner said it participated in the 2024 assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh for which the common election symbol "sitar" was allotted to it.

The plea said the petitioner has a constitutional guarantee and a statutory right to contest elections, subject to statutory safeguards, and the non-allotment of an election symbol will take away the opportunity to contest elections.