Collector and district election officer Brijesh Chandra Mishra, along with superintendant of police Dr Anand Chhabda, at a meeting held here on Wednesday, informed representatives of print media and TV channels that as per the instructions of the election commission of India, a vigil would be kept on the expenses incurred by political parties and candidates.
The collector said that Media Certification Monitoring Committee (MCMC) has been formed for monitoring the expenses being incurred by political parties and candidates on advertisements and paid news published through newspapers and TV cable channel.
Additional district magistrate Sunil Jain, CEO of district panchayat Dr Ayaj Bhai Tamboli, deputy district election officer Soumya Chourasia, representatives of print and electronic media of Durg and Bhilai were present in the meeting.
The collector said that political parties or candidates have to take permission from the district election officer three days before publishing advertisements in newspapers and TV cable channels and should inform about the likely expenditure on it.
CEO Tamboli said that if the MCMC feels that any advertisement has been published in favour of any candidate without taking proper permission, it should inform the returning officer immediately. The returning officer, under Section 127(B) of the Public Representation Act 1951, will serve notice on the candidate. The MCMC will give information about clippings and recordings of print and electronic media and paid news to the assistant expenditure observer daily.
Deputy district election officer Soumya Chourasia has appealed to all the print and electronic media to cooperate in conducting impartial election.
Superintendant of police Dr Chhabda, while informing about the action being taken by the police administration for conducting the assembly election impartial and peaceful, said that arrangement for sufficient police force would be made in the district for the election. In order to maintain law and order during election, punitive action was being taken against the habitual offenders under section 107, 109 and 110 of the CrPC, he added.