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Publishing poll candidate’s propaganda is paid news: Election Commission
Why it is in news?
- Repeated publication of propaganda lauding the achievements of a candidate in an election is nothing but “paid news”, the Election Commission of India has told the Supreme Court.
- Politicians cannot say that it is part of their fundamental right to free speech to spew out “motivated propaganda”.
- The EC has asked the court to declare whether it amounts to “paid news” if widely circulated daily newspapers cover statements issued.
- A candidate that are not only laudatory of his or her record and achievements but also are a direct appeal to voters by the candidate.
What ECI said?
- The commission has moved the court in appeal against a decision of the Delhi High Court on May 18 to set aside the disqualification of Madhya Pradesh BJP leader Narottam Mishra.
- The commission’s National Level Committee on Paid News found that five newspapers, with a wide circulation had published 42 news items that were “biased and one-sided and aimed at furthering the prospects of Mr. Mishra”.
- Some of the reports were advertisements in favour of him.
- The committee concluded that the items fitted the definition of “paid news”.
- The EC on June 23 last year disqualified Mr. Mishra for not filing the accounts for money spent as election expenses on news items.
- Though a single judge of the High Court upheld the commission’s decision to disqualify Mr. Mishra a Division Bench concluded that the BJP leader was merely exercising his fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.
Source
The Hindu