SC dismisses petition opposing Samata Party-JD (U) merger

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition filed by Samata Party opposing its merger with JD(U) and seeking directions to the Election Commission of India to restore the status of the former and its symbol 'mashaal'.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and Markandey Katju told the counsel for the petitioner that it is for the Election Commission to decide which is the real Samata Party as the apex court cannot decide issues which are exclusively within the domain of the Election Commission.

MP Brahmanand Mandal was elected president of Samata Party on January 4, 2008 by the group opposed to the merger.

According to the petitioner, the then president of Samata Party George Fernandes merged the party with JD(U) without taking the national executive of the party into confidence.

UNI AKS/SC BDP RP HS1553