In pursuance of instructions from Election Commission of India conveyed through Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, a District Level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) headed by District Election Officer has been constituted for previewing, scrutinizing and verifying all advertisements by individual contesting candidates of political parties before it is inserted in the electronic media during election period. The committee will also keep a check on the cases of paid news.
The committee has been established in the office of PIB Srinagar.
According to the district election office, the committee shall have the functions of pre-certification of advertisements, examining complaints/ issue of paid news, monitoring of political advertisements in electronic and other media in relation to candidates, either overt or covert from expenditure monitoring angle, advertisement of print media and checking the name and address of the publisher and the printer is carried on any election pamphlet, poster, handbill and other documents as requires under RP Act.
The committee shall strictly follow the guidelines of ECI during the election period.
Meanwhile, all print and electronic media agencies, news channels, news portals, agencies are informed to publish, telecast, broadcast and carry only those Ads of political parties, which are pre-certified by the MCMC.
Regarding paid news, it should be mentioned conspicuously that the news item has been carried as paid news to avoid any violation of MCC.
