New Delhi, March 23: The Supreme Court has ruled on the petition filed by Dr. S. Ramdas, the founder of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), stating that the Election Commission does not have the authority to resolve the dispute regarding the party’s ‘Mango’ election symbol. The court upheld the Madras High Court’s decision, which had dismissed Ramdas’s writ petitions.
The bench, led by Chief Justice Suryakant, clarified that the Election Commission cannot intervene in internal disputes of unregistered political parties, particularly in matters related to the allocation of election symbols.
This dispute primarily revolves around the leadership of the party between Ramdas’s faction and that led by his son, Dr. Anbumani Ramdas. Ramdas sought to allocate the symbol to his faction or freeze it to prevent Anbumani’s faction from using it.
The Supreme Court instructed Ramdas to file a lawsuit in civil court regarding this matter. The court directed the lower court to expedite the hearing of this dispute and deliver a swift verdict. However, it also made it clear that Ramdas has a full legal avenue open to him and can strengthen his claims regarding the party’s name, flag, and symbol in civil court.
This entire matter is tied to a long-standing family and leadership dispute within the PMK. Ramdas founded the party, but factionalism has increased in recent years following his son’s appointment as president. The Madras High Court had previously stated that such disputes should be settled in civil court, not through the Election Commission or writ petitions. The Supreme Court has agreed with this perspective.
This ruling may impact the PMK’s standing in the Tamil Nadu elections, as the ‘Mango’ symbol is integral to the party’s identity. The dispute will now proceed to civil court, where both parties will need to present evidence for their claims.
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My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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