Bombay High Court seeks EC reply to PIL against hand symbol allotted to Congress

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has asked the Congress, Chief Election Commissioner, the Union of India and Maharashtra Government to file their response on a petition challenging allotment of 'hand' symbol to the party on the ground that it was very similar to the logo of State police.

The direction was given by a bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah yesterday when the Public Interest Litigation filed by Pune-based RTI activist Hemant Patil came up before it.

The respondents have been asked to file their replies by January 17 next, according to petitioner's lawyer R N Kachave.

The PIL said that the symbol may lead common man to equate Congress with police and think that the party maintains law and order.

Patil claimed in the petition that he had approached the Election Commission of India as well as the Maharashtra Home Ministry and had also filed written complaints with them but no action was taken.

The Court will hear the matter in January next after Christmas vacations.