[BREAKING] Delhi High Court dismisses Uddhav Thackeray plea challenging EC decision to freeze Shiv Sena party name, symbol

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed the plea filed by the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray challenging the Election Commission’s decision to freeze the Shiv Sena party name and the bow and arrow symbol..Justice Sanjeev Narula, however, directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to decide the proceedings related to allotment of symbol and party name as expeditiously as possible.."In light of the fact that there is no interdiction by the Supreme Court regarding the proceedings to be conducted by ECI, in the opinion of the Court, it would be in the interest of both the parties as well as the general public, that the proceedings are concluded expeditiously. Accordingly, ECI is directed to adjudicate the Dispute Petition under Para 15 of the Symbols Order as expeditiously as possible," the court ordered. .The Uddhav Thackrey and Eknath Shinde factions had both laid claim to the party name of Shiv Sena and its symbol. However, the ECI passed an interim order on October 8 restraining both camps from using the 'Shiv Sena' party name and the symbol until it decides which among the two rival factions is entitled to use them..The order was passed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey.The order stated the following:"a) Neither of the two groups led by Sh. Eknathrao Sambhaji Shinde (Petitioner) and other led by Sh. Uddhav Thackeray (Respondent) be permitted to use the name of the party "Shivsena" simplicitor;b) Neither of the two groups shall also be permitted to use the symbol "Bow & Arrow", reserved for "Shivsena'."The order added that both the groups can choose names they desire in the interim including names having linkage with their parent party 'Shivsena'."Both the groups shall also be allotted such different symbols as they may choose from the list of free symbols notified by the Election Commission for the purposes of the current bye-elections," it further said..The order was passed on a plea by the Shinde faction seeking a decision on which is the real Shiv Sena - the Shinde camp or the Thackeray camp.This, after the Shinde and majority of Shiv Sena MLAs had withdrawn support to then Chief Minister Thackeray, leading to the fall of the government in Maharashtra..Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Devadatta Kamat argued for Uddhav Thackeray faction. The plea was filed through advocates Vivek Singh, Devyani Gupta and Tanvi Anand.Senior Advocates Rajiv Nayar, Maninder Singh and Neeraj Kishan Kaul along with advocates Chirag Shah, Utsav Trivedi, Himanshu Sachdeva and Manini Roy appeared for the Eknath Shinde faction. .[Read Order].EC decision to freeze Shiv Sena name, symbol has brought our functioning to standstill: Uddhav Thackeray faction to Delhi High Court.Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.