Elections 2014: EC wants paid news to be electoral offence

New Delhi: Recognising the malaise of paid news, Election Commission has proposed to the government to make it an electoral offence even as it continues to tackle it itself by monitoring the expenditures of candidates.

Addressing a press conference here to announce the Lok Sabha poll schedule, Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath said paid news has three aspects - print media, electronic media and expenditure by candidates.

"Since there is no law (to deal with paid news), we have made a proposal to the Law Ministry to make it an electoral offence," he said. Meanwhile, he said, the Election Commission deals with the malaise by keeping a close watch on the expenditures of the candidates.

"Election Commission is doing what is under its control. We have monitoring committees in districts and states. We add the expenditure to the expenditure account of the candidate concerned," Sampath said.

With regard to complaints about paid news in print media, he said the cases are referred to the Press Council of India. As far as complaints regarding paid news in electronic media are concerned, such cases are referred to the National Broadcasters Association (NBA), he said. To a question regarding demands for banning opinion polls, the CEC said it is for Parliament to decide.

"We never hesitate to use powers that we can. However, the issue of opinion polls is to be dealt with by the lawmakers. They have the legislative competence," he added. The issue of banning opinion polls has been hanging fire since 2004.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission today said the model code of conduct has come into effect which bars the ruling party from taking any action that would disturb the "level-playing field" required for the elections.

"The Election Commission would like to clarify once again that model code is an instrument to ensure that level playing field is not disturbed during the course of elections...

"Any action which is taken by any authority will be examined with regard to these parameters," Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath told reporters.

The reminder to the government came amid speculation that the Union Cabinet will consider tomorrow some ordinances. Responding to another question, Sampath said the EC is "clear" about use of the "instruments" available to it and there should be no doubt over the effectiveness of the model code of conduct. "We have never hesitated to use our power," Sampath stressed.