SC asks Ajit Pawar-led NCP for details of ads issued after 'Clock' symbol ruling
SC asked Mukul Rohatgi, representing Maharashtra's deputy chief minister's faction, to provide details of ads issued after Sharad Pawar claimed non-compliance with the court's March 19 order.
The Supreme Court on Friday (March 19) directed Ajit Pawar's faction to publish a public notice in English, Hindi, and Marathi newspapers saying that the allocation of the 'clock' symbol is pending before the court, and the respondents are permitted to use it until a final decision is made.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan asked senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the faction led by the Maharashtra deputy chief minister, to furnish the details of advertisements issued after Sharad Pawar alleged that they are not complying with the court's March 19 order.
The bench said, "Mr Rohatgi you have your instructions on how many advertisements were issued after this order. We might be required to take a view if he (Ajit Pawar) is behaving like this. Nobody has a right to deliberately misconstrue our order." Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Sharad Pawar, said that on March 19, this court passed a reasoned order in which they (Ajit Pawar group) was asked to issue advertisements that the allocation of 'clock' symbol is sub judice before this court and they were permitted to use the same subject to final outcome of these proceedings.
On March 19, the top court 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 is sub judice before this court and the respondent have been permitted to use the same subject to final outcome of these proceedings.
"Such a declaration shall be incorporated in every pamphlet, advertisement, audio or video clip to be issued by the respondent (NCP) political party," the top court had said.
(With agency inputs)
