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Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 14
The Election Commission has said that any registered political party, any candidate, any organisation/association or any individual who wishes to give an advertisement of political nature needs a pre-certification from the district-level committee.
A meeting of the District Media Certification and Monitoring Committee was held today under the chairmanship of Mandip Singh Brar, Additional Chief Electoral Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh.
The District Media Certification and Monitoring Committee undertakes activities related to certification of advertisements of political nature and monitoring of paid news. The pre-certification is required for telecasting advertisement of political nature on TV channels, cable networks, radio, cinema halls, audio-visual displays in public spaces, bulk messages, voice messages and social media.
To obtain this pre-certification, national, state party and every candidate has to apply not later than 3 days prior to the date of telecast. However, in case of any other person or unregistered political party, it should not be later than 7 days prior to the date of telecast.
The committee will decide the case within 24 hours of the receipt of application, if it is received by 12 noon. If any candidate is not satisfied with the decision of the District Media Certification and Monitoring Committee in cases of certification of advertisement of political nature, then the former may apply to the State-Level Appellate Committee, which is headed by AK Sinha, Chief Electoral Officer, Chandigarh.
The District Media Certification and Monitoring Committee will also monitor the cases of paid news in TV channels, cable networks, radio, cinema halls, audio-visual displays in public spaces, bulk messages, voice messages, social media and print media. Any news or analysis appearing in any media for a price in cash or kind as consideration is called paid news.
In case of violation, the committee recommends to the returning officer to issue a notice. The entire setup of the District Media Certification and Monitoring Committee has been operationalised in the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency.
About monitoring committee
The District Media Certification and Monitoring Committee undertakes activities related to certification of advertisements of political nature and monitoring of paid news. The pre-certification is required for telecasting advertisement of political nature on TV channels, cable networks, radio, cinema halls, audio-visual displays in public spaces, bulk messages, voice messages and social media.