As per the directives laid down by the Election Commission of India, for any political advertisement on the print, electronic or social media, prior permission will be needed from district level media certification and monitoring committee. Any such advertisement or promotional material needs to be verified by the committee before making it public.
In a statement issued by the Haridwar district election officer it was stated that during the Lok Sabha elections, media certification and monitoring committee (MCMC) has been formed for verification and authorisation before final publishing and telecast of any political advertisement in television, radio channels, audio visual networks, cinema halls, social media, e-papers.
Giving a detailed briefing, district election officer and district magistrate Deepak Rawat said that all independent candidates and registered political parties are informed that for all advertisements and promotional news, they must take prior consent certificate. This directive for this consent has been given as per the directives of Supreme Court of India that any cable television operator or TV channel will not display any promotional material which is not as per the Constitutional laws and which is likely to hurt the sentiments of someone. Any such material which instigates to crime, or is anti-social, targeting any particular caste, race or creed shall not be allowed. The advertisement must be as per model code of conduct.
Rawat further said, “Those media enterprises having head office in Uttarakhand must submit two copies of advertisement in Hindi and English in digital (CD) form to the office. The advertisement can be printed or broadcast only after due consent within 24 hours. If the media certification and monitoring committee raises an objection, that would be full and final. Any violation in implementation of the decision by MCMC will be liable to face action.”