Warning that publication or broadcasting of any paid news both in print and electronic media without prior approval and certification of the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee would invite disciplinary action, District Collector and Election Officer Akash Tripathi on Monday appealed candidates and political parties to refrain themselves from such activities.
Chairing a meeting of the Monitoring Committee at the Collectorate here, the officer said that in the event of any violation of the ruling by candidates or political parties, the Committee would serve notices on such candidates and parties and suitable action would be taken against them.
Besides Collector, the meeting was attended by SDM Alok Singh, Additional Collector Ravindra Singh, Indore Press Club president Praveen Khariwal, Assistant Excise Commissioner Sanjay Tiwari, Assistant Election Officer Sharad Shrotriya among others.
Collector said in case of publication of an advertisement in the shape of news by the political parties and candidates both in the print media and electronic media, the cost of such advertisements would be added to poll expenses of the respective candidates and necessary action would be initiated against them as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India.
In the meeting, the Collector further said political parties and its candidates before issuing any advertisement to the print or electronic media must get a prior certification from MCMC. He added that Media Certification and Monitoring Committee would keep a round-the-clock tab on publication and broadcast of news in the print and electronic media to ensure that the news published or broadcast did not fall under the purview of paid news.
Meanwhile, the District administration on Monday issued a circular wherein all the proprietors of hotels, lodges and dharamshalas would have to give detailed information about the persons staying there to the in-charge of the respective police stations of the localities concerned. The notification has been put into effect from October 6 itself.