SAS Nagar, May 9, 2024: Election Expenditure Observer for 06- Anandpur Sahib, Mrs Shilpi Sinha, said that pre-certification is mandatory before broadcasting/airing any political campaign-related advertisement on electronic and social media. For this purpose, Media Certification and Monitoring Committees have been set up at the Returning Officer level and District level.
Visiting the District Media Monitoring and Certification Committee, SAS Nagar along with District Election Officer Mrs Aashika Jain, here at District Administrative Complex, Mohali, Expenditure Observer said that these days the definition of Electronic Media is getting vast. In the wake of broader definition of electronic media, election-related advertisements must be pre-certified by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committees before broadcasting to TV/cable Channels, Bulk SMS & Voice Messages, Cinema Halls, Internet and Social Media websites, E papers, Radio Channels, Audio Visual Display of Political advertisement/campaign in Public place.
Similarly, the media monitoring cell shall also keep a check on suspected paid news cases that would be examined by the district committee before sending for reference to the concerned Returning Officer. The RO shall issue notice to the candidates within 96 hours of publication/broadcast/telecast/receipt of the complaint to explain/disclose the expenditure incurred for publishing the news or similar matter. The candidate shall have to submit the reply of the notice to the RO within 48 hours of receiving the notice.
She further said that the election advertisements being carried in Newspapers (Print Media) on Pre-Poll day and Poll-day need to get pre-certification too from MCMC.
The Expenditure Observer while seeking cooperation from candidates and media appealed to them to refrain from paid news that misleads the public and hampers the ability of people to form correct opinions.
She was also accompanied by ADCs Viraj S Tidke, Sonam Chaudhary and Damanjit Singh Mann.