SC will hear Uddhav Thackeray’s appeal on July 31 in the Shiv Sena symbol controversy

The Supreme Court decided on Monday to hear Uddhav Thackeray’s appeal of the Election Commission’s decision to give the Eknath Shinde faction the party name “Shiv Sena” and its emblem “Bow and Arrow” on July 31.

When Uddhav’s attorney, advocate Amit Anand Tiwari, requested an urgent listing of the case, the bench, which was made up of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha, said, “It is listed July 31, we will hear it on that day.”

The Supreme Court summoned Shinde and EC earlier on February 22 to submit their response to Thackeray’s appeal within two weeks and ordered the issue to be listed after three weeks.

Previously, the Supreme Court consented to give notice on the plea filed by Uddhav Thackeray contesting the Election Commission’s decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde group as the official Shiv Sena and award them the party name and emblem but declined to suspend the judgement.

In his appeal to the Supreme Court, Thackeray said that the EC had failed to recognise the petitioner’s resounding support among the party’s rank and file.

The petition further argued that the EC’s actions undermined its constitutional position by failing to uphold its obligations as a fair arbitrator of disputes under paragraph 15 of the Symbols Order.

In response, the polling organisation informed the highest court in its counter-affidavit that it had made a “well-reasoned” decision, acting in a quasi-judicial position, to give the Shinde group the Shiv Sena name and party emblem.