Delhi HC dismisses Swaraj India’s plea for common symbol

Nalini Sharma

The Delhi High Court today dismissed Yogendra Yadav-led political party Swaraj India’s plea challenging the State Election Commission’s order rejecting a common symbol to the newly formed party.

Justice Hima Kohli had reserved the judgment last week after hearing arguments from Senior Advocate Shanti Bhushan representing the political party and SEC Standing Counsel Sumeet Pushkarna.

At 10.30 am today, Justice Kohli dismissed the petition, in effect upholding the SEC order rejecting the plea of the unrecognized registered party to get a common symbol.

According to the rules governing the municipal corporation elections, unrecognized political parties are required to contest the elections like independent candidates. Based on this, the SEC had denied grant of a common symbol to the party.

Swaraj India, on the other hand, had stated that they had over 290 candidates standing for elections and all of them contesting as independent candidates would adversely effect the party.

A copy of the judgment is awaited.

Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news