Sir — This refers to the controversy over the photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on calendars and diaries of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) for 2017. It is noteworthy that each of the 12-page calendars of the Government of India also has a photograph of the Prime Minister in different poses. Otherwise also, daily newspaper advertisements of the Union Government and even some State regimes carry photographs of the Prime Minister. All this is a result of a Supreme Court verdict which, initially allowing photos of President, Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India in Government advertisements, relaxed the rule to include photographs of Union Cabinet Ministers, State Governors, Chief Ministers and Ministers in States too.
It is noteworthy that the then Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam had set a healthy trend by not allowing his photograph in Government advertisements. The Supreme Court should suo motu review its order.