Pattali Makkal Katchi Dispute : Supreme Court Asks PMK To Approach Civil Court To Seek Symbol Freezing

The Supreme Court on Monday asked  Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) party to approach the Trial Court seeking the freezing of the 'mango' symbol in the upcoming assembly elections till the dispute relating to the party leadership involving the founder Dr S Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss is settled.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi was hearing a petition filed by PMK, which challenged the Madras High Court's refusal to entertain the writ petitions seeking to declare S Ramadoss as the Party President and freezing the mango symbol. The High Court had taken the view that since the dispute relating to the election of the Party President was pending before the Trial Court, the symbol dispute should also be decided there. 

The Supreme Court observed that the High Court's approach cannot be faulted. "It is correct that such a dispute between the two rival groups claiming the symbol of an unrecognised political party cannot be decided by the Election Commission," the bench observed. However, the Court said that the aggrieved party is not without remedies. The Court allowed Ramadoss to file an application before the Civil Court tomorrow itself to seek the freezing of the symbol.

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, for the petitioner, raised the issue of urgency as the last date for filing nominations for the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry assemblies is approaching soon. Considering this request, the bench asked the Civil Court to decide the application, if filed by tomorrow, within three days.

The bench clarified that all contentions are left open.

Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora appeared for Anubmani Ramadoss, who submitted that the PMK has lost recognition as a state party, and hence the ECI cannot decide the symbol dispute.

Singh submitted that there are only three statuses for a symbol:  allotted, free, or frozen. Singh submitted that a free symbol will be allotted by lottery to anyone who applies on a first-come, first-served basis; however, it cannot happen in the case of PMK, as the mango symbol has long been associated with the party. Singh submitted that if a symbol is given to either of the claimants, then it will amount to pre-deciding the issue as to who is the real party. He added that the symbol cannot be kept as free for allotment to other parties. Hence, he urged that the symbol must be frozen.

Arora informed the Court that a civil suit over the dispute is already pending. She added that the Delhi High Court had also, in December 2025, held that "the ECI has no power or jurisdiction to give any finding as regards internal disputes emanating from rival sections within an unrecognised political party, as in the case of the petitioner political party. Furthermore, the ECI, as such, shall not recognize or de-recognise any rival faction or any claims that may be raised by any rival faction."

Arora claimed that the mango symbol will not become a 'free symbol', even if the party loses its recognition. Even if the party lost its recognition as a State party, the mango symbol will be allotted to it if it is contesting from more than one constituency. 

Case : MS. PATTALI MAKKAL KATCHI Vs ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA | SLP(C) No. 9877/2026