A Constitution Bench on Wednesday decided to hear on September 27 the question whether the Election Commission of India can go ahead and hear Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's claim over the Shiv Sena party and its symbol of 'bow and arrow' even as petitions concerning the disqualification of his breakaway faction for defection are pending in the top court.
"We will list the interim applications on the question whether the Election Commission should go on or not. We will decide this on that day… September 27. We will see if any directions are necessary for the Election Commission or not," Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, heading the five-judge Bench, addressed lawyers appearing in the case.
The rival Uddhav Thackeray loyalists had filed the interim applications earlier in the Supreme Court against the Election Commission’s (EC) proceedings.