SC tells NCP led by Ajit Pawar to declare use of Clock symbol sub judice

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday told Nationalist Congress Party led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to declare in all publicity and campaign materials during the upcoming Assembly polls that the use of 'Clock' symbol by it was sub judice and subject to the final order of the court.

SC Warns of Contempt if Ajit Pawar NCP Violates Election Symbol Conditions

A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notice to the group on a fresh plea filed by Sharad Pawar alleging violation of the conditions fixed by the apex court earlier on March 19 and April 24 on the use of the symbol.

Sharad Pawar is uncle of Ajit Pawar and has founded the NCP.

His plea challenging the Election Commission's decision of February 6, 2024 recognising the group by Ajit Pawar as the NCP and awarding it party symbol of 'Clock' is pending consideration before this court.

Court Seeks Compliance on ‘Clock’ Symbol Usage Pending Final Verdict

On Thursday, considering his application, the bench asked the Ajit Pawar group to give an undertaking to meticulously comply with the conditions fixed on March 19 and April 24 or it would act suo motu against it.

"We expect both sides to comply with our directions. Don't create embarrassing situation for yourselves. if we find there is deliberate attempt to violate our order, we can initiate suo motu contempt," the bench said.

Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for the Sharad Pawar faction, claimed the Ajit Pawar group was not using the disclaimer in the publicity materials and should be restrained from using 'Clock' symbol.

Senior advocate Balbir Singh for the Ajit Pawar group countered the claim and insisted all publicity and campaign materials carried the disclaimer as mandated by the Supreme Court.

The court asked the Ajit Pawar group to file a fresh undertaking that it had not violated any of the conditions.

Singhvi sought to bring across the Bar some of the screen shots from X and Facebook to substantiate his charge which was objected to by Singh.

The court fixed the matter for consideration on November 6.

In his plea, Sharad Pawar claimed that during the general elections where the Sharad Pawar faction contested on the 'man blowing turha' symbol and Ajit Pawar on the 'clock' symbol, registered voters on the ground were faced with immense confusion and dilemma in respect of who represented the Nationalist Congress Party.