The ongoing legal battle between the factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has once again caught the attention of the Supreme Court. On Thursday the court issued directives regarding the usage of the party's symbols in election advertisements, emphasizing the need for compliance from both sides.

The dispute traces back to July 2023 when the NCP split into two factions led by Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar. This split resulted in a contentious issue over the legitimacy of each faction, ultimately leading to legal proceedings.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) found itself in the midst of this intra-party conflict, tasked with determining the legitimacy of each faction. Based on the submission of affidavits by both factions, the ECI recognized the Ajit Pawar faction as the legitimate NCP, a decision that was promptly contested by Sharad Pawar in the nation's apex court.

The legal dispute reached its zenith on March 19 when the Supreme Court issued a pivotal order. The court granted permission to the Ajit Pawar faction to utilize the NCP's clock symbol for electoral purposes. However, this permission came with a crucial condition: the faction was mandated to include disclaimers in all election advertisements. These disclaimers were to explicitly state that the usage of the symbol was contingent upon the final decision of the court regarding the ongoing legal imbroglio.

Despite this directive, allegations soon emerged suggesting non-compliance by the Ajit Pawar faction. Sharad Pawar's representatives argued vehemently before the Supreme Court that the disclaimers were either absent or inadequately displayed in the faction's election advertisements. They accused the opposing faction of flouting the court's orders and misusing Sharad Pawar's image to gain political advantage.

In response to these accusations, the Supreme Court convened once more to address the matter. The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan, emphasized the paramount importance of ensuring public awareness regarding the unresolved legal dispute over the party symbol. The court underscored the need for strict compliance from party leadership and cautioned against any attempts to exploit the situation for electoral gain.

Furthermore, the court directed the Ajit Pawar faction to rectify the situation promptly. They were instructed to ensure more prominent placement of disclaimers in their election advertisements, thereby adhering meticulously to the court's previous orders. The bench stressed that the purpose of these disclaimers was to inform voters that the issue of the party symbol remained sub judice and subject to legal resolution.

In light of these directives, the Ajit Pawar faction was compelled to issue larger advertisements with prominently displayed disclaimers, in accordance with the court's instructions.

Case: Sharad Pawar vs Ajit Anantrao Pawar and anr.