Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Election Commission cracks down on anonymous political hoardings; ask states to trace publisher
Lok Sabha elections 2024: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday directed all states and union territories to trace the printers and publishers from the election-related material including hoardings. The direction is another step by the poll commission to ensure accountability and transparency in campaign communications ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.
“The decision was taken by the Commission consisting of Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar, and Election Commissioners Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu after representations were received in the Commission stating that in hoarding spaces controlled by Municipal authorities, hoardings without the identity of the printer or publisher have been noticed," the Election Commission of India (ECI) said in a press release.
As per the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the printing or publishing of election pamphlets, posters, placards, or banners without prominently displaying the name and address of the printer and publisher is prohibited. The rule allows the Election Commission of India (ECI) to regulate the campaign financing and fixing of responsibility in case content is found unbecoming of the framework of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
“With this directive, the Commission now has put the accountability on printers, publishers, licensees/contractors of urban local bodies renting out outdoor advertising space for the political advertisements published on outdoor media," the ECI statement added. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, the Supreme Court is set to hear a plea that can have a major impact on the conduct of polls in India.
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