New Delhi: A panel appointed by the Supreme Court has suggested that government advertisements stay politically neutral and avoid glorification of political personalities, positive portrayals of the ruling party or negative projections of the Opposition.
It has said that governments should cut down on ads particularly before and during elections, and must not be seen as using ads to patronise media houses to secure favourable coverage.
The court asked the Centre and the petitioners – the NGOs Common Cause, Centre For Public Interest Litigation and Foundation for Restoration of National Values – to file their responses. The next hearing is on February 17.
Last year, the court had formed a three-member panel to examine the matter and appointed senior counsel Ranjit Kumar, who has since become solicitor-general, to head it.
Placing the panel report in the court today, Kumar said that additional solicitor-general Maninder Singh would from now on represent the Centre on the matter to avoid any conflict of interest.
