Senior Congress leader and former Minister Mohammed Akbar demanded stern actions against the concerned officials citing the acceptance of Advocate General in Chhattisgarh High Court, Bilaspur.
Advocate General had accepted before court that it was ‘folly’ of some administrative officials of state government that photographs of office bearers and election symbol of Bharatiya Janata Party were included in advertisement of government.
In a statement Akbar said in the Public Interest litigation (PIl) filed by Dr Ajit Anand Degwekar, the Advocate General of state government had admitted that “ a folly seems to have been committed by certain subordinate authorities.” These officials have been given instructions to be extra careful in issuance of such government advertisements, the Advocate General had said.
Further commenting on the matter Akbar said it’s astonishing that the said officials who issued the advertisement are still occupying the post and no change in their behaviour is expected. Such officials might repeat similar act in future and hence the government should remove them from their posts, he demanded.
It is not the intention of government to stop this objectionable work that is why no action has been initiated against them, he further charged. He also advised these officials not to repeat the act and give political mileage to any political party with the funds which has been raised from common citizen.
Akbar, citing the Supreme Court instructions said government advertisements are made using the public money. Hence publicity of political parties with having election symbol and photographs of party office bearers is against the laid laws of land.