West Bengal elections: Delhi High Court seeks ECI’s response to Sanatann Swaraj Party's plea for registration

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a petition seeking registration of a political party named ‘Sanatann Swaraj Party’ [Sanatann Swaraj Party vs Election Commission of India].

Justice Amit Bansal took note of the party's submission that there is an urgency in the matter in view of the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal.

“The present petition has been filed seeking direction to ECI to approve the proposed name of the petitioner Sanatann Swaraj Party on an urgent basis and direct the ECI to register the proposed political party. Petitioner submits that there is urgency as the petitioner party wishes to contest the upcoming elections in West Bengal. Notice,” the Court said in the order. 

Advocate Irshad Ahmad Khan, appearing for the petitioner, stated that the party had filed an application before ECI for registration in November 2024. However, the application continues to remain pending, he stated.

The party sent a reminder to ECI and even sought to know the status of the application by way of an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act but no proper response was provided, the Court was told.

The counsel added that the party is planning to contest the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections which are scheduled in March-April this year. It was submitted the party will have to undergo a time-taking process for its registration before the elections.

“We have to contest West Bengal Assembly elections in March. Then we will have to publish name in the 8 newspapers, which will take over 30 days,” the counsel stated. 

Highlighting the urgency of the matter, the party in its plea said,

“Petitioner will deprive to setup its candidates under the common symbol for the forthcoming General Legislative Assembly Election for the state of West Bengal, if the respondent does not register the political party of the petitioner prior to the expiry of the date of submission of application under Para 10B of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Orders, 1968."

Considering the urgency, the Court asked the ECI to file its response to the party's petition and listed it for hearing on February 11.