No Political Ads In TV, Electronic Media Sans Permission: CEO

Bhubaneswar: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha has directed District Election Officers, Returning Officers, all other authorities concerned, TV channels, cable operators and political parties that all advertisements of political nature in the electronic media, including cable networks and television channels as well as cable operators, shall not be telecast and uploaded without getting prior certification of advertisement (s) or telecast from the competent authority.

In a letter to the director, Information and Public Relations (I&PR), additional CEO-cum-additional secretary Abhaya Kumar Nayak has asked him to strictly adhere to the directive of the CEO pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court on April 13, 2004, in the exercise of the power conferred under Article 142 of the Constitution.

“All such advertisements which are intended to be displayed over the entire state are to be pre-certified by the State Level Media Certification & Monitoring Committee in the office of the CEO, Odisha. Besides, advertisements intended for display/broadcast within the district are to be pre-certified by the District Level Media Certification & Monitoring Committee headed by the District Election Officer & collector or the Returning Officer and collector, as the case may be,” the letter stated.

The order of the apex court shall be applicable in the whole of the territory of India at all times and not restricted only during the period commencing from the date of announcement of the poll schedule by the Election Commission and till the completion of the election process, the letter pointed out.