The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission of India to decide the dispute between the two rival factions of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the party name and "flowers and grass" election symbol within four months.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana has directed the two factions, led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee, to complete their pleadings before the poll body within four weeks.
The CJI-led bench further directed the poll panel to decide the issue within three months after the parties complete their pleadings.
The apex court's decision came while it was hearing a petition filed by former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in the aftermath of the poll body's decision to freeze the TMC's name and party symbol.
On September 17, the Election Commission decided to freeze the name and party symbol. The next day, the poll panel allotted separate names and symbols to Mamata and Arup Roy-led factions.
The poll body had issued an interim order after hearing the leaders of both factions. The EC had decided to freeze the symbol and name, pending a substantive determination of the dispute.
The decision itself was of significance for the two groups as bypolls for Nandigram in East Medinipur district and Rejinagar in Murshidabad district are scheduled to be held on October 6, with vote counting on October 9.
During an earlier hearing on Thursday, the apex court had taken a stern stand on the matter and directed the poll body to set a time frame for settling the dispute.
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"Maybe what is required is to issue a direction to the (Election) Commission that they should start hearing the matter, hear it for some time on a day-to-day basis, whatever evidence or proof you have to lead, and decide it," the CJI said.