No lapse in granting registration to AAP: EC

The EC Friday told the Delhi High Court there was "no lapse" in granting registration to the AAP and it was given after the requirements were met.

The counsel appearing for the Election Commission (EC) submitted before a division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw that no norms were violated while registering the party.

The court was hearing a PIL seeking an inquiry into the alleged irregularities during registration of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by the poll panel.

Submitting an affidavit in the court, the poll panel said: "The commission decided to grant registration to it (AAP) as a political party after it submitted all requisite documents and fulfilled the various requirements for registration. There is no contravention of any provision of law. Registration of AAP was granted after completing all requisite formalities and requirements."

"There is no lapse or any undue haste on the part of the commission office in granting registration to the party (AAP), as alleged or at all."

It further stated that in 2010, the commission added more conditions for registration and these include the requirement that the political party has to issue public notice in the newspapers stating it has submitted application to the panel for registration as a political party and if anyone has any objection to such registration, the objection can be submitted to the EC within 30 days of the public notice.

The court asking the petitioner to file the reply, posted the matter for July 30.

The court had earlier asked the poll panel to appraise the court how it registered the party and how it has not violated the provisions of the Emblem and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act and The Representation of the People Act.

The petition filed by Hans Raj Jain questioned the use of national emblem (Ashoka Chakra) by the AAP during registration of the party with the poll panel, arguing this is a violation of the constitution as no one can use the national emblem for personal use.

The plea said the AAP submitted Dec 3, 2012 a request for registration of the party on its letter pad with logo of national emblem of national flag which is unconstitutional and illegal.