No more govt ads in newspapers, TV: TN to HC

No more govt ads in newspapers, TV: TN to HC

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:23.02.2021 

The Tamil Nadu government will not issue advertisements in newspapers and televisions any more, as all such advertisements had been stopped since February 18, the government informed the Madras high court on Monday.

The submission was made by advocate-general Vijay Narayan, in response to a plea by the opposition DMK taking exception to the AIADMK government spending crores of rupees of public funds ‘to lure voters’ through advertisements in almost all television channels and newspapers.

“The advertisements were issued only to showcase the performance of the state government for the past four years. All such activities will be stopped once the Election Commission Of India (ECI) notifies election for the state,” advocate-general Vijay Narayan said. Actually, the matter has become infructuous since the government has stopped issuing such advertisements from Thursday, he added.

Earlier, representing DMK, senior advocate P Wilson said, free and fair elections and purity in elections are basic features of the constitution. The chief minister of the state is indulging in advertising in all TV channels, newspapers and all websites commercial internet sites pampering and projecting him for the past two months.

On October 7, 2016 ECI issued directions to all political parties to resist from indulging in such acts and clarified that it would attract freezing of election symbols. DMK has made representation citing violation of the direction in January and February 2021 but so far, the ECI has not taken any action, Wilson said. To this, the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy said these are the advantages of being a ruling party and DMK would also get the advantage once it comes to power.

Senior advocate G Rajagopal, appearing for the ECI, submitted that the commission had called for remarks from AIADMK and was awaiting reply. He further sought time for filing a status report. Granting time till March 2, the bench adjourned the hearing.