SC lets Ajit faction use clock symbol in polls with 'sub-judice' declaration
Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP to issue a public declaration that the use of «clock» symbol by it for campaigning in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections is «sub-judice and subject to the outcome» of the challenge by the Sharad Pawar faction to the decision of Election Commission of India. ECI had recognised the Ajit faction as the real NCP. Aggrieved by ECI's decision, the Sharad faction had moved the apex court.
A bench headed by justice Surya Kant directed the Ajit faction to issue a public notice in newspapers in English, Marathi and Hindi editions. The bench has ordered that such a declaration should accompany all advertisements to be issued by NCP. «Such declaration shall be incorporated in every template, advertisement, audio or video clip issued» on behalf of NCP, the court ordered.
The Supreme Court bench also ordered that a «man blowing Turah (trumpet)» symbol shall not be allotted to any other political party, independent candidate and the same shall not be used in any manner by the Ajit faction. ECI and the Maharashtra State Election Commission have been directed to take necessary actions in this regard.
The Supreme Court bench also made it clear that the undertaking given by the NCP (Ajit faction) to not use the name and pictures of Sharad Pawar in election posters will apply not just to the state of Maharashtra but also to other states.
During the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the apex court bench asked whether EC's approach of using the «legislative majority test» to
