Paid news should be made electoral offence: CEC

With the number of cases of paid news rising, it continues to disturb the election commission (EC). Ahead of the Lok Sabha election, the EC wants to include paid news among the list of electoral offences. 

The EC has recommended to the law ministry to treat all paid news as an electoral offence, chief election commissioner VS Sampath said. 

“Corruption implications of paid news has its impact on every one, media, candidates and people. It causes maximum damage to the electoral process. Paid news should be made an electoral offence and all those who indulge in it should face the consequences,” Sampath said.

On election model code of conduct, Sampath said the political parties in power should not be permitted to give advertisements on their achievements in the media at least six months before the date of election. Exception, however, should be made for issues connected with health, poverty alleviation schemes and on consumer interest, he added. 

Sampath also stressed that funds of political parties should be brought under scrutiny in order to bring in transparency. 

India has a long way to go in electoral reforms. “Inadequacies have been felt and expressed in many areas. Remedial measures are slow in coming,” Sampath said.

Source: TelevisionPost, 23 December

Source: http://cablequest.org/news/national-news/item/3889-paid-news-should-be-made-electoral-offence-cec.html