Formation of State Level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee | 28 Sep 2023

Why In News?

As per the instructions of the Election Commission of India on September 27, 2023, a State Level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee has been constituted for the upcoming Assembly General Election-2023 in Chhattisgarh.

Key Points:

• A seven-member MCMC has been formed under the chairmanship of Chief Electoral Officer Smt. Reena Babasaheb Kangale. The order issued by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer regarding the formation of the committee became effective immediately.
• According to the order issued by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Nilesh Kumar Mahadev Kshirsagar has been made the member-secretary of the state level media certification and monitoring committee.
• Press Information Bureau (PIB) Raipur Deputy Director Ramesh Jaibhaye, Press Council of India member Dr. Suman Gupta and scientist at National Informatics Center in Mantralaya, Nava Raipur, Asim Kumar Thawait have been made members of the committee. Along with these, observers appointed by the Election Commission of India and skilled representatives nominated by the committee will also be its members.
• The State Level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee will take decisions on the appeals received from both the District and Additional/Joint Chief Electoral Officers regarding certification of advertisements. The committee will investigate all cases of paid news on appeal against the decision of the District Level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee or cases taken on its own motion. If cases of paid news are found true, the committee will direct the Returning Officer concerned to issue notice to the candidates.