Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 29: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to decide on the dispute between two factions of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the party's name and 'flower and grass' symbol within three months after the completion of pleadings.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed both factions to submit their pleadings, including additional documents, affidavits and counter-affidavits, within four weeks.

During the hearing, senior advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu, appearing for the Election Commission, sought six months to decide the matter, stating that notices had been issued to both factions and their responses were awaited.

However, the court said four weeks would be sufficient for the parties to complete their pleadings and directed the poll panel to decide the symbol dispute within the subsequent three months.

Justice Bagchi told the Election Commission's counsel that three months would be sufficient to decide the matter after the completion of pleadings.

The order was passed while hearing a plea filed by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenging the Election Commission's decision to freeze the TMC's name and party symbol.

The poll panel had allotted separate names and symbols to the two rival factions after temporarily barring both groups from using the 'All India Trinamool Congress' name and its reserved symbol pending a final decision on the dispute.

Following hearings with representatives of the factions led by Banerjee and Arup Roy, the Election Commission said the matter required a substantive determination under the provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.