PIL says Cong symbol looks like Police logo: HC seeks response

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has asked the Home Department of Maharashtra Government to respond within a month to a petition challenging allotment of 'hand' symbol to Indian National Congress 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 last week when the Public Interest Litigation filed by Pune-based RTI activist Hemant Patil came up before it.

Earlier, the court had also sought response of the Congress party, Chief Election Commissioner and the Union of India on the petition.

The respondents have been asked to file their replies by March 9, according to petitioner's lawyer R N Kachave.

The PIL said that the symbol may lead the 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.