HC to give interim order on Swaraj India's plea on poll symbol

The Delhi High Court on Saturday said it will issue an interim order on April 3 on Yogendra Yadav-led Swaraj India's plea against a single judge's verdict dismissing their petition for allotting a common symbol to its candidates in upcoming MCD polls.

A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar said that as the matter requires consideration, at present it will pass an interim order on Monday as to whether a common symbol can be allotted to Swaraj India in the upcoming municipal corporation elections or not. "Due to paucity of time we will at present pass an interim order, as the matter requires consideration," the bench said, adding that "in democracy we will have to allow others also to contest election. It cannot be restricted to only one or two political parties".

It observed that even the Delhi state election commission is examining the issue and has written to the authorities concerned to consider amending the rules for allotment of common symbols to registered but unrecognised political party.

Senior advocate Shanti Bhushan and advocate Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for Swaraj India, submitted before the larger bench that they had urged the Delhi poll panel and the single judge that a common symbol be allotted to registered unrecognised parties so that a level playing field is created in the elections.

The counsel argued that the Election Commission of India has created a level playing field by allowing common symbols to be granted to registered unrecognised parties in case of Assembly and Parliamentary elections.