The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday reiterated before the Bombay high court that it is putting together a code of conduct for publication of political advertisements on social media, primarily in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. A final decision in this regard will be taken after the next round of consultation with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMA) and social networking sites, scheduled to be held on Tuesday.
The ECI counsel, advocate Pradeep Rajagopal, submitted a written note on its behalf stating that the ECI will issue directions prohibiting Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google from publishing any political advertisements on social media platforms, unless the advertisements are pre-certified by Media Certification and Monitoring Committee of the ECI.
The statement said the ECI will also evolve a mechanism to notify social networking sites about non-certified political advertisements and the networks will immediately remove such non-certified political advertisements from their respective platforms immediately on receiving such orders from the ECI.
Rajagopal submitted the statement in response to a public interest litigation filed by Sagar Suryawanshi seeking directions to the ECI to restrain social media from carrying any political advertisements during the 48 hours prior to voting in general elections, as contemplated under Section 126 of the RP Act.
The division bench of chief justice Naresh Patil and justice NJ Jamdar has now posted the PIL for further hearing on Monday, directing the ECI to submit its final decision taken
{{/usCountry}}The division bench of chief justice Naresh Patil and justice NJ Jamdar has now posted the PIL for further hearing on Monday, directing the ECI to submit its final decision taken
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