EC sets timeline to fast-track disposal of paid news cases

“The EC has fixed the timeline with an objective to fast-track the disposal of suspected paid news-related cases during the elections,” said Umesh Sinha,Chief Electoral Officer of UP,today.

The commission has directed that on reference from district media cell and monitoring committee (MCMC),the returning officer would give a notice to the candidate within 96 hours of publication/broadcast/telecast/receipt of a complaint to explain the expenditure incurred for publishing the ‘paid news’ or similar matter,or state why expenditure should not be computed as per standard rate and added to the candidate’s poll expenditure.

The district level MCMC will have to decide on the reply from the candidate expeditiously and convey its final decision to the candidate. In case no reply is received by district MCMC from the candidate within 48-hour of serving the notice,the decision of the committee will be final.

If the decision of district MCMC is not acceptable to the candidate,he may appeal to the state MCMC within 48 hours of receipt of decision. The state level MCMC will have to dispose of the case within 96 hours of receipt of the appeal. The candidate may appeal against that decision to ECI within 48-hour of receiving of order and the decision of ECI will be final.

Where the district or state level MCMC or ECI decide that it is a case of paid news,such cases should be conveyed to Press Council of India for further action in relation to the media concerned,says the circular.

The MCMCs have been asked to ensure that due deliberation takes place on each case and only suspected cases of ‘paid news’ are referred to the Returning Officer for issue of notice to the candidate.