कैलकत्ता हाई कोर्ट ने ISF के 'एनवेलप' प्रतीक को टीएमसी-डेमोक्रेटिक को सौंपने पर सवाल किया

'ECI Should Be Impartial': Calcutta High Court Questions Allotment Of ISF's 'Envelope' Symbol To TMC-Democratic For By-Polls

Srinjoy Das

24 Sept 2026 12:00 PM IST

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday questioned the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its decision to allot the 'Envelope' election symbol, which had earlier been used by the Indian Secular Front (ISF), to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the upcoming by-elections.

Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, appearing for the ISF, submitted that the allotment of the symbol to another political party was creating confusion among voters, particularly as the ISF was also contesting the election.

“How can they allot my symbol to them in an election I am also contesting? This action of ECI is spoiling the EC machinery and it's losing credibility,” Bhattacharya submitted.

He further suggested that the ECI should freeze the 'Envelope' symbol for all parties and allot another symbol to the contesting parties.

“I am suggesting that ECI should declare this Envelope frozen for all and give another symbol to the parties. Otherwise voters are confused that in the election held in May ISF had envelope and in July it is changed,” he submitted.

The ECI, however, told the Court that the ISF had been given the symbol in 2021 and had contested elections in 2024 and 2026, while the symbol had been mentioned as a free symbol.

The Court questioned the ECI's decision-making in choosing the particular symbol for another party.

“Why are your authorities doing like this? Why entering into these disputing things? How any symbols they were having? 183? Why are you putting envelopes?” the Court observed.

The Court further questioned why the ECI had chosen the 'Envelope' symbol when several other symbols were available.

“Your authorities are only pinching the people to create legal proceedings? This is their way to work?” the Court remarked.

The Court observed that the ISF's grievance was that once a particular symbol had been used by one party, the same symbol was allotted to another party in a by-election.

“Every time you persons are compelling people to come to the court. You know it was alloted. 183 symbols are there why did you choose the envelope?” the Court said.

When the ECI submitted that the choice of symbol was made by the petitioners, Bhattacharya disputed the submission, stating that the ECI had allotted the symbol and that the party had not chosen it.

The Court observed that once the election process had commenced, the decision was creating difficulties and compelling political parties to approach the Court.

“Once the election started you are creating all the trouble and the parties are coming to court, putting burden on the court,” the Court observed.

The Court further noted the core issue raised by the ISF, observing that where one symbol had already been used by one party, the ECI should have considered keeping it reserved rather than allotting it to another contestant.

“His case is that when one symbol is used by one party, and this is the by election, why did you choose only that symbol for a particular person? You should have kept it reserved,” the Court observed.

Case: Indian Secular Front v Election Commission of India

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