Committee on govt ads holds its first meeting

In its first meeting held today, a Committee constituted to draft guidelines on government advertisements has decided to invite suggestions from key stakeholders including ministries, state governments, political parties as well as citizens.
In a statement issued here, the I&B ministry said the meeting of the Committee to prepare guidelines for government advertisements as per the directions of the Supreme Court was convened today.
The Supreme Court had on April 23 this year delivered a judgement saying there is a need to distinguish between the advertisements that are part of government messaging and advertisements that are politically motivated and designed to patronise media organizations and get favourable media coverage.

The court found the existing policy/guidelines do not govern the issues raised and do not lay down a criterion for the advertisements to qualify for public purpose as opposed to partisan ends and political mileage.
Members of the Committee constitued after the Supreme Court direction include Prof Madhav Menon, senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, former Secretary General Lok Sabha T K Vishwanathan and I&B Secretary Bimal Julka as Member-Secretary.
The committee is scheduled to submit draft guidelines to the Supreme Court in three months.
In its statement, the I&B ministry said the committee. after deliberations, desired that the views of stakeholders such as client ministries, state governments, recognized political parties and citizens should be taken into taken into account at the earliest.

The website of I&B Ministry will be one of the conduits for inviting such suggestions, it added.