LI Network
Published on: October 21, 2023 at 11:24 IST
The High Court of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh issued a directive on Friday, instructing the Election Commission to provide a common symbol to all candidates representing the ‘Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal’ in the upcoming November elections across four states.
Justice Rajesh Sekhri clarified that this interim order is subject to potential objections and the final resolution of the matter.
The court has officially served notice to the Election Commission and other concerned parties, requesting their responses within a four-week period. This development occurred during the hearing of a petition filed by advocate Ankur Sharma on behalf of the petitioner, ‘IkkJutt Jammu.’
The petitioner claims to be a registered political party that changed its name from ‘IkkJutt Jammu’ to ‘Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal’ in compliance with established rules. ‘Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal’ has sought the Election Commission’s intervention to allocate a common symbol for the upcoming assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. However, the EC did not respond to their request.
“In the meantime, respondents are directed to accept the nomination paper and Form B of the petitioner party in the name of ‘Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal,'” stated Justice Sekhri.
Justice Sekhri’s order mandates the allocation of a common symbol to the petitioner party, allowing them to participate in the forthcoming legislative assembly elections in the four states.
He emphasized that this order remains subject to potential objections and the final resolution of the matter. Despite complying with all legal formalities, the Election Commission has not yet addressed the party’s name change or symbol allocation, as noted by the court.
The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for December 11.
