Make paid news electoral offence, proposes CEC

Batting for establishing a strong deterrent to weed out the menace of paid news from the electoral process, the Election Commission has proposed making paid news an electoral offence. The poll panel also called for electoral reforms by establishing a ceiling on the campaign expenditure of political parties that is used as a ruse to pump in unlimited resources.

Chief Election Commissioner V. S. Sampath said that if paid news is made an electoral offence, then it will serve as a “deterrent” on those violating the law. “Paid news is really a matter of serious concern for the commission. It is not an electoral offence. We have proposed to the law and justice ministry that paid news should be made an electoral offence,” Mr Sampath told agencies. “Action on the issue will be a deterrent. Action now is without backup of law,” he explained.

The CEC said once paid news is made an electoral offence, then it can be a ground to take action against the guilty candidate under election petition. The EC’s proposal on the issue has been pending with the government for the past two years.

Mr Sampath said during the EC’s visit to several states, parties have expressed concern over the issue of paid news. The CEC was of the view that organisations such as the Press Council of India and News Broadcasters Association should also use their powers to curb the practice of paid news.