Symbol row: SC to hear Sena-UBT plea on July 14

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday agreed to list on July 14 an application filed by Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena seeking interim relief in its plea (pending) challenging the Election Commission of India's decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde group as the official Shiv Sena and grant them the 'bow and arrow' election symbol.

The application sought an urgent listing before a vacation bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and K Vinod Chandran. Citing urgency in the wake of the upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra, the Thackery faction urged the vacation bench to list the matter for hearing either this or the next week.

The bench, however, was not inclined to list the matter during the vacations. The counsel appearing for Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena told the bench that on May 7 another bench of the Apex Court had turned down a similar request for urgent hearing.