The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Supreme Court on Wednesday requested the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction to disclose specific details regarding the newspaper advertisements they have published. This request comes after allegations from Sharad Pawar that the faction is not adhering to the court’s directive from March 19. This directive ordered the faction to include a disclaimer in all publicity materials, stating that the allocation of the ‘clock’ symbol to them is currently under judicial review.
Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan, addressing senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi representing the Maharashtra deputy chief minister’s faction, demanded an account of advertisements released post-March 19. This move by the bench signifies the court’s readiness to assess compliance with its order critically, emphasizing that deliberate misinterpretation of its directive would not be tolerated.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Sharad Pawar, criticized the Ajit Pawar group for not fulfilling the court’s instructions to include a disclaimer in their advertisements. He argued against the faction’s request for a relaxation of the order, highlighting the importance of maintaining the court’s reasoned decision, especially amidst the ongoing electoral period.
In response to Singhvi’s assertions, the bench inquired Rohatgi about the application for modification of the order, which Rohatgi clarified was not listed and pertained to a minor adjustment sought by his faction. However, Justice Kant emphasized that the disclaimer must persist in advertisements throughout the election process.
The bench’s directive to Rohatgi to provide detailed information on the advertisements reflects its intention to ensure that its orders are unambiguously followed. This development stems from the Supreme Court’s March 19 decision, which allowed the Sharad Pawar faction to use ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’ as its name and ‘man blowing turha’ as its symbol for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The court had also instructed the Ajit Pawar-led faction to publicly acknowledge that the ‘clock’ symbol’s allocation is pending a final verdict, a requirement meant to be included in all forms of their campaign material.
This ongoing legal battle over the NCP’s election symbol highlights the intricate challenges faced by political parties in India’s electoral landscape, underscoring the critical role of the judiciary in ensuring fair play and transparency in the democratic process.