JANATHA DAL PARTY vs THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

The Supreme Court addressed the ownership of Premises No. 3, Race Course Road, Bangalore, originally gifted to the Bangalore City Congress Committee by Sri C. Rangaswamy under a registered Gift Deed dated 22.4.1949. The Court reaffirmed the Election Commission of India's decision recognizing the Congress (J) as the legitimate Indian National Congress following a split in 1969, which was upheld in Shri Sadiq Ali v. The Election Commission of India (1972) 4 SCC 664. The ruling clarified the implications of political party splits on property ownership, holding that the Congress (J) retains rightful ownership of the premises.