Paid News: ECI issues strict measures, DEOs to monitor print & electronic media

March 13: It is in the backdrop of the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had directed maximum vigilance so that cases of ‘Paid News’ or surrogate advertisements in Print and Electronic media in the context of elections are severely dealt as per the existing provisions of law of the land. The Election Commission also stated that recently that the practice of ‘Paid News’ has been on the rise at an alarming proportion. The practice of paid news has to be seen as an attempt to circumvent the provisions of sections 77 and 123 (6) of the R.P. Act 1951.

According to an order served by the ECI, the cases of ‘Paid News’ generally include forms of news articles, reports published about a particular candidate or a party eulogizing them, or similar news articles/reports denigrating the opponents, both intended at unduly influencing the voters. Legal provisions under section 127 A of the R.P. Act, 1951 make it mandatory for the publisher of an election advertisement, pamphlet etc to print the name and address of the publisher attracts a penalty of imprisonment up to two years and fine upto Rs 2000.

The Commission had also directed that for the purposes of investigation, district level committees can be constituted by the DEOs in each district.  The DEOs were strictly directed to closely monitor advertisements released in print and electronic media. The order copy issued by the ECI further directed the DEOs to serve notices to candidates/political parties to explain his/her stand as to why the coverage should not be treated as an advertisement. They were directed to report any such instances to the commission.