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Days after a discriminatory message saying Muslims not allowed placed by a private real estate agency appeared on a web portal,the company that owns the portal has agreed to introduce a software check to red-flag when religion,caste or community is mentioned in an advertisement.
The decision comes following a meeting the company,which runs popular real estate website 99acres.com,held with the National Commission for Minorities after a Delhi-based lawyer Shehzad Poonawalla moved the NCM against the discriminatory advertisements.
As decided at the meeting with NCM chairperson Wajahat Habibullah,the web portal along with Poonawalla will evolve an advertising code with good practices for the real estate sector to ensure religious prejudices do not appear online again.
Earlier this month,an advertisement posted on 99acres.com by one M/S Jacinta Estates based in Wadala for sale or rent of a property in Dadar said no Muslim allowed. Another advertisement was for a 500-square feet flat put up for rent at Mira Road in Thane. Both advertisements were first modified and later removed from the website.
Soon after the ad was brought to the notice of the website,the company issued a press statement saying it was highly embarrassing for them and that they would ensure such gross mistakes were not repeated. The advertisements are uploaded directly by advertisers on the site using self-service online interface,99acres had claimed.
mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com
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