Today (15 March): The Supreme Court reviewed the Election Commission’s policy of allocating free symbols on a “first-come, first-served basis.” The matter followed a challenge filed by a Tamil Nadu-based, unrecognized political party, raising concerns over the fairness and transparency of the allocation process.
NEW DELHI: Today (15 March): The Supreme Court has directed its attention towards a plea filed by the Tamil Nadu-based unrecognized political party, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), questioning the Election Commission’s practice of allocating free symbols to unrecognized political entities on a first-come, first-served basis.
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The bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud along with Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, has summoned a response from the Election Commission regarding this matter. Additionally, notice has been served to another unrecognized political party that received the poll symbol previously held by NTK.
Earlier, on March 1, the High Court dismissed NTK’s petition contesting the allocation of free symbols by the poll panel to unrecognized political parties sequentially. The court upheld the Election Symbols Order, rejecting NTK’s argument that it was arbitrary and unconstitutional. The court emphasized the importance of maintaining a fair and transparent process for allocating free symbols.
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NTK raised objections over the assignment of the ‘ganna kisan’ (sugarcane farmer) symbol to another political party in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, leading to their dissatisfaction.
The Chief Justice, while acknowledging the petition, announced that the appeal would be deliberated upon post-holi vacation, indicating the seriousness with which the Supreme Court views the issue. The court intended to examine Paragraph 10B(B) of the Election Symbols Order, which governs the grant of free symbols to parties and candidates based on a first-come, first-served approach.
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