Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Declare NCP's 'clock' symbol sub-judice in posters, Supreme Court notice to Ajit Pawar

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked NCP led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to declare in publicity 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.

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

The court 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.

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.

"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.

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

Singhvi sought to put across 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 March 19 order, the apex court had directed the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party to put a disclaimer in publicity materials that allocation of 'clock' symbol to it was sub judice.

The court had also asked the Ajit Pawar group to meticulously make such a declaration in every advertisement material, audio and video clips.

In a fresh plea, NCP's founder 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.

Sharad Pawar group had challenged 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'.

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