Treat One-Sided Laudatory News Reports as Paid News: EC to SC | 24 Sep 2018

Laudatory news articles by which a political leader appeals for votes in his favour by boasting his record and achievements should be treated as paid news, the Election Commission (EC) has told the Supreme Court.

• The Election Commission told Supreme Court that politicians cannot say that it is part of their fundamental right to free speech to propogate their “motivated propaganda”.

Election Commission's Arguments

• It asked the court to declare whether it amounts to paid news if widely circulated daily newspapers cover statements issued by, and in the name of, a candidate that are not only laudatory of his or her record and achievements but also are a direct appeal to voters by the candidate.
• Any news is expected to be unbiased and characterised by dispassionate coverage and proportionate space to other contenders.
• If such motivated propaganda is allowed in the garb of free speech during the election period, candidates with a strong network of connections will have the unequal advantage of encashing such silent services.
• It declared such relationships between candidates and publications an unholy alliance.

Background

• The EC has challenged the Delhi High Court verdict quashing the EC’s decision to disqualify Madhya Pradesh Minister Narottam Mishra for three years on charges of paid news.
• The EC, in 2017 disqualified Mr. Mishra for not filing the accounts for money spent as election expenses on news items.
• Mr. Mishra’s membership was revoked under the provision of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which relates to providing wrong information to the Commission on expenses incurred during the polls.
• The paid news committee  constituted by EC had concluded that news items/ articles were “biased, one-sided and aimed at furthering the prospects. They also fit the existing definition of paid news as given by the Press Council of India.
  • The Press Council of India (PCI) defines paid news as any news or analysis appearing in print or electronic media for consideration in cash or kind.
• The Division Bench of Delhi HC concluded that the BJP leader was merely exercising his fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.
• It said that EC's sphere cannot extent to judging content of speech; it is only to adjudge whether the election expenses incurred by the candidate have been accounted for.
• While, the commission said its powers to investigate the contents of such news coverage should not be thwarted.

The Issue of Paid News

• Paid news is not an electoral offence yet, but there is a case to make it one.
• The EC has recommended to the government that the Representation of the People Act, 1951, be amended to make the publishing, or abetting the publishing, of paid news to further a candidate’s prospects or prejudicially affect another’s an electoral offence.
• Until this is done, contestants who use paid news can only be hauled up for failing to include the expenses involved in their campaign accounts.
• Earlier, an Uttar Pradesh MLA, Umlesh Yadav, was disqualified in 2011 on the same ground, of suppressing expenditure incurred in the publication of paid news.
• In Mr. Mishra’s case, the EC has taken the view that even if it were true that he made no payment, he ought to have included an estimated amount in his accounts. Also, candidates cannot simply claim that these reports were not authorised by them. As long as the intention to boost someone’s prospects was clear, and there was no objection from the candidate, the EC can rule that there was ‘implied authorisation’.
• Moreover, he must have proof that he distanced himself from such charitable services or news at the relevant time and not post facto.
• Mr. Mishra’s case pertains to the 2008 election, and by the time the Commission has given its verdict he is into his next term, having been re-elected in 2013. The enormous delay in adjudicating such questions is often created by candidates approaching the courts to stall inquiries.
• A legal framework in which electoral issues are expeditiously adjudicated must also be put in place if election law is to be enforced in both letter and spirit.