Aam Janata Unnayan Party v. Election Commission Of India

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ W.P.(C) 3317/2026, CM APPL.

16062/2026 & CM APPL.

16063/2026 AAM JANATA UNNAYAN PARTY .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Sumeet Pushkarna, Sr. Adv. with Mr. Nitesh Mehra, Ms. Hitaakshi Mehra, Mr. Kartik Jain and Ms.

Pratishtha Verhwani, Advocates.

versus ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA .....Respondent Through:

Ms. Anjana Gosain and Mr. Shrey Manjari, Advocates.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT BANSAL

O R D E R

% 17.03.2026 1.

The present writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondent/Election Commission of India to decide the representation filed by the petitioner for relaxation of the prescribed period of 30 days for inviting objections and reduce the said period to 7 days in the facts and circumstances of the present case.

2.

Mr. Sumeet Pushkarna, senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, submits that a representation has been filed with the Election Commission of India on 13th March, 2026. He has also drawn attention of the Court to the order passed by this Court on 18th September, 2025 in W.P. (C) 14512/2025 titled as Ram Adheen Das (General Secretary of Proposed The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

Political Party Indian Inclusive Party) IIP v. Election Commission of India, wherein similar relief was granted in favour of the petitioner therein. It is further submitted that the petitioner party intends to contest the forthcoming elections in West Bengal, which have been announced day before yesterday.

3.

The relevant directions passed in Ram Adheen Das (supra) are set out below:- "12. Having heard learned counsel appearing for the parties, this Court takes note of the fact that, on previous occasions also, the ECI has been granting relaxation with respect to the 30 days' notice period, wherein, the said 30 days' notice period for inviting objection from the public has been reduced to 7 days. However, this Court takes note of the submission of leamed counsel appearing for the respondent-ECI that such concession is granted only in cases where the elections have already been announced. 13.

Upon pointed query by this Court, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner accepts the fact that elections to the Bihar Legislative Assembly have still not been announced.

14.

Accordingly, it is directed that, in case, the elections to Bihar Legislative Assembly are announced before 25th September, 2025, when 30 days' notice period gets over, the petitioner shall approach the respondentECI with a request to reduce the statutory 30 days' notice period to a period of 7 days.

15.

However, in case, at the time of announcement of the election to the Bihar Legislative Assembly, the 7 days' notice period is already over, the ECI shall consider reducing the notice period to the date on which such representation is made by the petitioner.

16.

Needless to state, in case, there is no objection to the public notice, the respondent-ECI shall proceed to process the application of the petitioner forthwith and allot the symbol accordingly.

17.

However, in case, any objection is received by the respondent-ECI to the notice uploaded on the website of the ECI, the same shall be considered and appropriate orders shall be passed, taking into account the said objections."

4.

In view of the above, the present writ petition is disposed of in terms of the directions passed in Ram Adheen Das (supra) as set out above. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

5.

Accordingly, the respondent shall consider the representation filed by the petitioner dated 13th March, 2026 in an expeditious manner. 6.

In the event no objection is received to the public notice, respondentElection Commission of India shall process the application of the petitioner forthwith and allot the symbol.

7.

Pending applications also stand disposed of.

8.

The order be given Dasti under signatures of the Court Master. AMIT BANSAL, J MARCH 17, 2026 Vivek/- The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.