SC directs Ajit Pawar faction to clarify ‘clock’ symbol status in ads

The Supreme Court directed Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party on Wednesday to provide details of newspaper advertisements issued in compliance with its order.

The order instructed the faction to include a disclaimer stating that the allocation of the ‘clock’ symbol to it is sub judice in all publicity.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan directed senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the faction led by the Maharashtra deputy chief minister, to furnish the details of advertisements issued subsequent to Sharad Pawar’s allegation that they are not adhering to the court’s March 19 order.

The bench remarked, “Mr. Rohatgi, you have your instructions on the number of advertisements issued after this order. We might need to take a view if he (Ajit Pawar) is behaving in this manner. Nobody has the right to deliberately misinterpret our order.”

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Sharad Pawar, stated that on March 19, this court issued a reasoned order in which the Ajit Pawar group was directed to publish advertisements stating that the allocation of the ‘clock’ symbol is sub judice before this court. They were allowed to use the same, subject to the final outcome of these proceedings.

On March 19, the apex court had directed the Ajit Pawar-led faction to publish a public notice in newspapers in English, Hindi, and Marathi editions, stating that the allocation of the ‘clock’ symbol is sub judice before this court. It further stated that the respondents have been allowed to use the same, subject to the final outcome of these proceedings. “Such a declaration shall be included in every pamphlet, advertisement, audio, or video clip to be issued by the respondent (NCP) political party,” the apex court had stated.