S U P R E M E  C O U R T  O F  I N D I A                        RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C)  No(s).  9877/2026 [Arising out of impugned judgment and order dated 20-02-2026 in WP No. 6719/2026 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Madras] M/S. PATTALI MAKKAL KATCHI                         Petitioner(s)                      

ITEM NO.29               COURT NO.1               SECTION XII

S U P R E M E  C O U R T  O F  I N D I A

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C)  No(s).  9877/2026

[Arising out of impugned judgment and order dated 20-02-2026 in WP

No. 6719/2026 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Madras] M/S. PATTALI MAKKAL KATCHI                         Petitioner(s)

VERSUS

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA & ANR.                Respondent(s) Date : 23-03-2026 This petition was called on for hearing today.

CORAM :  HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE

HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE JOYMALYA BAGCHI

HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE VIPUL M. PANCHOLI

For Petitioner(s) :Mr. Vikas Singh, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Ardhendumauli Kumar Prasad, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Gaurav Prakash Pathak, Adv.

Ms. Deepeika Kalia, Adv.                    Ms. Khushi, Adv.

Mr. Sudeep Chandra, Adv.                    Mr. Ashish Kumar, Adv.

Mr. Siddhant Kumar, Adv.

Mr. Nishant Kumar, AOR

 

For Respondent(s): Ms. Meenakshi Arora, Sr. Adv.

Ms. Mukta Gupta, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Anuj P. Agarwala, Adv.

Mr. Tushar Gupta, Adv.

Ms. Nitya Gupta, Adv.

Mr. R. Bhalu, Adv.

Ms. Vinoba Bhoopathi, Adv.

Mr. Lakhvinder Singh, Adv.

Mr. Dhruv P., Adv.

Mr. Shyam Diwan, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Vibhore Garg, Adv.

Mr. Keshav Tiwari, Adv.

Ms. Diksha Kakkar, Adv.

Mr. Vijay K. Jain, AOR

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UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following

O R D E R

1.      We have heard learned senior counsel for both sides at a considerable length.

2.      The High Court appears to be right in holding that the dispute re: allocation of symbol among the two rival groups of an unrecognized political party cannot be decided by the Election Commission of India.  We have gone through the orders passed from time to time and must observe that an aggrieved party must not be left remediless.

3.      Since the petitioner has already filed a civil suit, it is open to the petitioner to move an appropriate application before the Civil Court.  If such an application is filed by tomorrow, i.e., 24.03.2026, we direct the Civil Court to decide the same after hearing the parties and in accordance with law within a period of three days.

4.      Since we have not expressed any opinion on merits, the parties to the suit, including those who may seek their impleadment, shall be at liberty to raise all the contentions before the Civil Court.

5.      The Special Leave Petition is, accordingly, disposed of with pending application(s), if any.

(NITIN TALREJA)                                 (PREETHI T.C.) ASTT. REGISTRAR-cum-PS                        ASSISTANT REGISTRAR

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