CALCUTTA HIGH COURT QUESTIONS EC OVER ENVELOPE SYMBOL ALLOTMENT

September 25, 2026

KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday questioned the Election Commission’s decision to allot the “envelope” symbol to the Democratic Trinamool Congress for the October 6 bypoll, after the symbol had been used by the Indian Secular Front in the 2026 Assembly election. Justice Krishna Rao told the poll panel that election authorities should act fairly and impartially.

The court was hearing a petition filed by ISF, which has sought directions to prevent another party from using the symbol. ISF argued that voters could be confused because it had contested the Assembly election with the envelope symbol and is now contesting the bypoll as well. The Election Commission subsequently allotted ISF the “almirah” symbol.

The EC’s counsel argued that ISF is a registered unrecognised political party and therefore does not have a permanently reserved symbol. The commission also pointed out that ISF had been allotted the envelope symbol on previous occasions. ISF, however, argued that the by-election was a continuation of the Assembly election and said there had been no fresh notification requiring parties to apply for symbols through Form 10B.

Justice Rao questioned why the commission had selected the envelope symbol when 183 symbols were available and asked why it had not been kept aside after its recent use by ISF. The court expressed concern that such decisions were leading political parties to approach courts and adding to the judicial burden. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on Friday.