SC seeks EC stand on plea for action against religious party names, symbols

NEW DELHI: Political parties using religious connotations in their symbols or names is a “very important matter”, said the Supreme Court on Monday, as it sought the Election Commission of India (ECI)’S response to a plea seeking cancellation of such symbols and names.

A bench of Justices MR Shah and Hima Kohli said: “This (petition) raises a very important matter on religious symbols so that voters are not influenced.” It granted the poll panel two weeks to file a response.

The order came on a PIL filed by Jitendra Tyagi — formerly UP Shia Waqf Board chairman Syed Waseem Rizvi.

In his petition, Tyagi said that use of religious symbols or names to seek votes violates provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and goes against the principle of secularism under the Constitution. He also provided a list of parties in his plea.

Tyagi’s plea also said Section 29A of the RP Act requires political parties to bear true faith and allegiance to the principles of socialism, secularism and democracy. “By virtue of this... the petitioner is seeking directions to cancel the names and symbols of political parties which directly or indirectly refer to a religion or carry religious connotation,” it said.