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Synopsis

The Supreme Court today directed Sharad Pawar led Nationalist Congress Party faction to not use the 'clock symbol' which has been provisionally allotted to the Ajit Pawar group.

"The office bearers of Sharad Pawar's NCP SHALL NOT use the Clock symbol. We clarify and reiterate that the petitioner, his officer bearers and workers shall abide by the direction where they have been permitted to use the name NCP- SP.", a bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Vishwanathan has ordered.

Notably, court has also asked Ajit Pawar led NCP to issue more prominent advertisements in newspapers with the disclaimer ordered by the court on March 19.

Senior Advocate AM Singhvi had told court yesterday that Ajit Pawar's NCP group had not complied with the court's March 19 order directing it to publish advertisements in the media with a disclaimer that a legal dispute over the allocation of the party symbol ‘clock’ is still underway in the Supreme Court.

In response, Senior Counsel Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ajit Pawar said today, "I have faithfully done all the advertisements in English, Marathi and Hindi..".

"What they were to do, from day one till today, they are not using the name NCP-Sharad Chandra Pawar..they are using clock symbol..and they have the audacity to come to this court..", Rohatgi added.

On March 19, the Supreme Court had allowed Ajit Pawar led NCP faction to provisionally use the clock symbol for its party. Furthermore, Court had directed the Election Commission of India to provisionally recognise the NCP led by Sharad Pawar for the purpose of contesting upcoming Lok Sabha and state elections.

"The respondents (Ajit Pawar faction) are directed to issue a public notice in the newspapers in English, Marathi, Hindi editions notifying that the allocation of the 'clock' symbol is sub judice and the respondents shall be permitted to use the same subject to the final outcome of the proceedings." the Court had also ordered.

Earlier, court has asked the Ajit Pawar led faction of NCP to file an undertaking before it that it would not use Sharad Pawar's pictures in its posters.

Sharad Pawar approached the Supreme Court challenging the ECI's decision in favour of Ajit Pawar, who broke away from the Sharad Pawar camp to join the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra with eight NCP MLAs.

The ECI had ruled that Ajit Pawar's faction was the real NCP and permitted the faction to use the 'clock' symbol for the party. In its order, ECI said total number of NCP MLAs in Maharashtra State assembly stood at 81, out of which, Ajit Pawar submitted affidavits of 57 MLAs in his support while Sharad Pawar had only 28 affidavits.

Case Title: Sharad Pawar vs. Ajit Pawar