EC slaps notices on news channels, political party

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, April 4: The Election Commission has issued show-cause notices to a political party and two television channels for violating the notification issued by the ECI.

"It has been brought to the notice of the CEO, Assam that one private satellite channel aired a talk show on April 3 last, where a party-wise advantage position was displayed for the 65 LACs which went to polls in the first phase today," an official statement said.

As per the ECI order and also under Section 126(1) (b) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, displaying of any election matter including results of any opinion polls or any other poll survey, in any electronic media is prohibited during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in each of the phases.

"By telecasting an opinion poll/survey during the talk show, the channel has violated the ECI's order and Section 126 (1) (b) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951," it said.

Another private satellite channel telecast a commercial without pre-certification of the State Level Media Certification Committee.

A complaint from a political party and a telephonic reference have been received by the CEO, Assam from the Election Commission of India that one political party was playing a video, making an appeal to voters to vote for that party. It has been alleged that the advertisement had been played on a satellite news channel before obtaining pre-certification from Media Certification Committee at State Level. As per the guidelines of the Supreme Court and ECI, it is mandatory to have the pre-certification from the State level Media Certification Committee, before telecasting any electronic advertisement of political ture on television channels.

Both the channels and the political party have been directed to show-cause as to why appropriate legal action should not be initiated against them within 24 hours of receipt of the notice, the officials said.

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