SC sets up 3-member panel to frame guidelines for government ads ahead of polls

The Supreme Court on Wednesday set up a three-member committee to frame rules and guidelines for government related advertisements ahead of polls. The committee has been given three months to come up with the requisite guidelines.

The apex court today said that there is a need for strict checks against excess spending on public advertisements in the larger public interest till parliament enacts a law on the issue.

The three-judge bench led by Chief Justice P.Sathasivam noted that the existing rules and guidelines on issuing advertisements, highlighting the programmes, policies and achievements on the eve of elections or on the birthdays of leaders, was inadequate.

The Supreme Court was hearing public interest litigations (PILs) by NGOs Common Cause and CPIL over retraining the ruling parties from taking political mileage by projecting their leaders in official advertisements.

The petitions sought directives to the Centre and the states to desist from issuing large-sized advertisements in newspapers for commemorating any political personality or event, or for making the inauguration of a project to avoid enormous and unwarranted expenditure to the exchequer.

The petitions contended that many of these advertisements contained photographs of government functionaries and important political personalities and sought to glorify them to create an impression that they were responsible for providing benefits to the people.