New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday clarified that the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) cannot use the symbol of ‘Clock” as its allocation is sub-judice till the outcome of the court proceedings.

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice KV Viswanathan gave the clarification while hearing a Special Leave Petition filed by the NCP's Sharad Pawar faction challenging the February 6 decision of the Election Commission to officially recognise Ajit Pawar group as the real NCP and allot the party symbol 'clock' to them.

The bench directed the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP to issue a public notice in the newspapers in English, Marathi, and 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 outcome of the proceedings.

“Such a declaration shall be incorporated in every template, advertisement, audio or video clip issued on behalf of the respondent political party," the court directed.

The court further directed that the Sharad Pawar group will be entitled to use the name 'Nationalist Congress Party – Sharad Chandra Pawar' and 'man blowing turrah (trumpet)' symbol for Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.

Previously, the Election Commission of India had allowed the Sharad Pawar group to use this name for the Rajya Sabha Elections held in February.

On the earlier date, the court after hearing the objections raised by the Sharad Pawar group, had asked the Ajit Pawar faction to refrain from using the name and pictures of Sharad Pawar in election posters.

The court had also ordered the Ajit Pawar faction to use any other symbol other than the 'clock symbol'.

The Ajit Pawar faction filed an undertaking in the court today agreeing that they will refrain from using the names and pictures of Sharad Pawar in campaign materials.

The court also directed that the symbol "man blowing turha (trumpet)" will be a reserved symbol for NCP (Sharad Pawar) for the Parliamentary and State Assembly Elections and that it shall not be allocated to any other political party, independent candidate and the same shall not be used in any manner by the NCP-Ajit Pawar faction in the ensuing elections.

The court directed the Election Commission of India and the State Election Commission of Maharashtra to comply with the court orders and take necessary actions in this regard.

(With UNI inputs)