The Delhi High Court today restrained Election Commission of India (ECI) from allotting 'bucket' as symbol, which was being used by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) during local Gurdwara committee election here, to any other party in the upcoming assembly polls.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru also asked poll panel to consider SAD's representation and pass speaking order within 10 days on plea filed by the party and its Delhi unit president Manjit Singh G K, alleging that 'bucket' was not a free symbol.
"It would be appropriate for the respondents (ECI and Chief Electoral Officer) to consider their representation and pass a speaking order within period of 10 days.
"Meanwhile, respondents are restrained from allotting the symbol 'bucket' to any other individual or party as the same will frustrate the petitioner," the court said.
The court's order came on a plea challenging the poll panel's notification of December 2011 and January 2013 respectively, by which 'bucket' was mentioned as free symbol.
SAD's counsel Abinash K Mishra said that they have been contesting election for Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee with the 'bucket' symbol in terms of Gazette notification of October 8, 1999 issued under the rules framed under Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act.
The counsel further said that representation was given by SAD to ECI, but despite the lapse of around 12 months the said representation has not been disposed off so far even the Delhi assembly election are again expected very shortly.
It said it is going to contest Delhi assembly elections in alliance with Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Notification-cum-Symbol Order dated November 8, 2013 is going to seriously prejudice the results of the 2015 Delhi assembly elections.
