As per the Election Commission of India guidelines, Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) has to be constituted in each district during election period to take up the additional task of keeping a check on the cases of paid news. The committee shall have two distinct sets of functions.
1. Certification of Advertisements for which two specific members of MCMC i.e RO and ARO shall have to consider and decide on such advertisements for certifications
2. Examining complains/issues of Paid News etc by all members through a monitoring arrangement.
Besides discharging the functions of Certifications of Advertisements and checking of Paid News, the MCMC shall also assist in enforcement of Media related regulations under the RP Act. Hence the committee’s function shall include:
MCMC shall scan all media (newspapers, print media, electronic media, cable network, internet, mobile network etc) for
a. Suspected cases of Paid News
b. Monitoring of Political Advertisements in electronic media
c. Monitoring Political Advertisements in other media in relations to candidates, either overt or covert from expenditure monitoring angle.
d. Advertisement in print media
e. Checking if the names and address of the publisher and the printer is carried on any election pamphlet, poster, hand bill and other document as required under Section 127Aof R.P.A 1951
It shall submit a daily report to Accounting team with copy to RO and Expenditure Observer in respect of each candidate in the prescribed format with regard to expenditure incurred by the candidate on election advertising or actual expenditure incurred for publishing the “News” that is substantiated by necessary documents furnished by the candidate or notional expenditure as computed by the Committee in the assessed cases of Paid News.
The MCMC shall create a suitable mechanism for monitoring media and shall be equipped with adequate man power and infrastructure for the same.
The State Level MCMC shall perform two sets of functions:
1. Deciding appeal from both district and Additional Joint CEO committees on Certification of advertisement as per the Commission’s order.
2. Examining all cases of Paid News on appeal against the decision of District MCMC or cases that they may take up suo moto, in which case it shall direct the concerned ROs to issue notices to the candidates.
Any appeal against the decision of the State Level MCMC in matter of Paid News will be made to the Election Commission of India. The State Level MCMC can also make a reference to the Commission for advice if it deems it necessary. Where ever complaints on Paid News cases are made to the Commission directly, the Commission shall forward cases to the State Level MCMC for initial
consideration.
PAID NEWS GUIDELINES
With regard to Paid News, following guidelines may be followed.
1. Six months before the due date of normal expiry of Lok Sabha or the State/UT Legislative Assembly, as the case may be, a list of TV Channels/Radio Channels/ Newspapers, Broadcast/circulated in the State/UT and their standard rate card shall be obtained by the CEOs and provided to all District Level MCMCs for fixing the rates of advertisements.
2. Incase of bye election to Parliamentary or Assembly Constituency, the standard rate card shall be obtained by the District Election Officer concerned immediately on announcement of the bye election.
3. In case of any doubt relating to the application of the standard rate card arising, the matter shall be referred to the DIPR or DAVP, Ministry of I&B, Government of India for advice.
4. The CEO and DEOs will brief Political Parties and Media Houses about the above guidelines before the commencement of the election campaign. Media shall be asked to exercise self regulation in the regard.
5. The cases of suspected Paid News or advertisement or appeal shall have to be considered within strict timelines as follows;
a. On reference from District MCMC, RO shall give notice to the candidates within 96 hours of publication/broadcast/telecast/receipt of complain to explain/disclose expenditure incurred for publishing the news or similar matter, or state why expenditure should not be computed as per standard rate and added to the candidates expenditure. The same time\line will apply when State Level MCMC takes up cases suo motu or on the basis of complaints.
b. District/State party Level MCMC shall decide on the reply expeditiously and convey to the candidate/party its final decision. In case no reply is received by District MCMC from the candidate within 48 hours of serving of notice, the decision of MCMC will be final.
c. If decision of District Level MCMC is not acceptable to the candidate, he/she may appeal to State Level MCMC within 48 hours of receipt of decision with information to the District MCMC.
d. The State Level MCMC shall dispose off the case within 96 hours of receipt of appeal and convey the decision to the Candidate with a copy to District Level MCMC.
e. The Candidate may appeal against the decision of State Level MCMC to ECI within 48 hours of receiving of order from this Committee. The decision of ECI shall be final.
f. The entire process shall ordinarily be completed within Election period.
MCMCs may ensure that due deliberations takes place on each case and only cases that appear to be suspected cases of “Paid News” are referred to the RO for issue of notice to the candidate. While seeing that frivolous are not taken up, MCMC should ensure that there is no laxity on checking actual
“Paid News”
Where the suspected cases of Paid News are decided as a “Paid News” either at District Level/CEO Level/Commission Level, as the case maybe, the actual/notional expenditure shall be treated as part as election expenses of the candidate concerned, with due intimation to him/her or his /her agent.
Where the District/State Level Committee or ECI decides that it is a Paid News case, such cases shall be conveyed to Press Council of India for further action in relation to the media concerned.
(Media Cell,
CEO Office, Nagaland)
Contact Numbers Of Expenditure Observers
The Election Commission of India has appointed 13 Expenditure Observers with regard to conduct of General Elections to Nagaland Legislative Assembly 2013. In this regard, the office of the CEO, Nagaland has issued local contact numbers for use by the Expenditure Observers as follows:
Name of District Name of Observer Mobile No
1. Dimapur Debasis Roy 9436274931
2. Peren Nitin Saini 9436274932
3. Kohima Anand Kumar 9436274933
4. Pughoboto Mayank Gupta 9436274934
5. Phek V. N Thebi 9436274935
6. Mokokchung Y.C.H. Swami 9436274937
Biju M.K 9436274939
7. Zunheboto K.V.R.K. Bhupala Rao 9436274940
8. Wokha Abu Sama 9436274941
9. Mon Raja Manohar 9436274942
10. Longleng Pradeep Shoury Arya 9436274944
11. Tuensang Mohan Rao 9436274948
12. Kiphire Ravikant Gupta 9436274950
