Shiv Sena symbol dispute: Supreme Court slams politicians over remarks about delay in hearing

The Supreme Court on Friday expressed strong displeasure over public remarks made by certain politicians alleging that the top court was delaying the hearing in the long-pending dispute over Shiv Sena party symbol and name after a split in the party in 2022. .A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that when matters are listed, parties seek adjournments and then go to the media making allegations that cases are not being heard.“When the matter is listed you say give a date and then you go to the media and make statements. I will not take this lying down. Be very careful,” the CJI remarked.The exchange comes in the backdrop of recent comments made by Shiv Sena Uddhav Thackeray faction leader Sanjay Raut over the pendency of the case before the Supreme Court. Raut had publicly criticised the delay in hearing the matter and questioned the optics of the Chief Justice sharing a stage with Shinde at a public event in Mumbai while the dispute remained pending before the Court.Raut had reportedly said that the matter has remained pending for over three years despite repeated listings and alleged that the delay raised concerns about the fate of the Shiv Sena symbol dispute and related proceedings..Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for Thackeray faction, responded by saying that the case could be concluded within a few days whenever the Court found time to hear it.“This case needs a couple of hours. Whenever you have some time, we can finish in some days. No issue with us. We are ready since three years,” Kamat said.Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi then requested that the matter be listed in the last week of July.The CJI said that the Court’s concern was with public statements being made by politicians regarding the pendency of the matter.“Issue is with the statements being made by the politicians. We are sitting past 4 pm. If we are sitting idle then it's a different thing. We keep adjusting since all cases can be heard on a single day,” the CJI observed..Rohatgi agreed with the Court and said that no side should make such remarks publicly. He assured the Bench that statements of such nature were not in good taste and should not be made by either side.The Bench ultimately directed that the matter be listed on July 30..[Read Live Coverage]