SC directs Ajit Pawar to use clock symbol with disclaimer for polls

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to use the “clock” symbol in its publicity material for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections with a disclaimer that the matter was sub-judice before it.

The bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order on a plea filed by the rival Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction as it issued a notice to the Ajit Pawar-led faction.

The top court on March 19 and April 4 had directed the Ajit Pawar-led faction to issue a public notice in the newspapers in English, Hindi and Marathi editions notifying that the allocation of “clock” symbol was sub-judice. The apex court had further said that the Ajit faction was permitted to use the symbol subject to the case’s final outcome.

During the proceedings on Thursday, the bench took note of the submissions of senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for the Sharad Pawar faction. Singhvi submitted that the opponent group should be restrained from using the “clock” symbol as it didn’t use the disclaimer in their campaign materials and “misled” voters.

“They have been blatantly not using the disclaimer. They want to piggyback on me. Nobody should enjoy the goodwill of the symbol which is sub-judice,” Singhvi said.

The top court directed Ajit Pawar to file a fresh undertaking over its March 19 and April 4 directions to issue a public notice – “NCP’s ‘clock’ symbol is sub-judice” -- was being meticulously complied with even during the process of the state Assembly elections.

“File a fresh undertaking as well that you have not violated our directions in the past and till the end of elections. If there is any violation, we will take note of it. We expect both sides to comply with our directions. Please don’t create an embarrassing situation,” the bench said.

Singhvi said the Ajit Pawar group should be allocated a new symbol for the Assembly elections.

Senior Advocate Balbir Singh, appearing for Ajit Pawar, opposed Singhvi’s submissions and said all pamphlets and campaign materials contained the disclaimers as directed by the apex court.

“They are showing false documents. We have given disclaimers in our publicity material. They came up with the same allegations during the Lok Sabha polls which were rejected. I am willing to file all documents and pamphlets,” Singh said.

The matter has been posted for hearing on November 6.