The Election Commission of India has prohibited display in electronic media, including cinematography, of any biopic or publicity material in the nature of biography/hagiography sub-serving the purposes of any political entity or any individual entity connected to it. The J&K government issued a statement in this regard on Saturday.
“A detailed order issued by the ECI on 10th April, 2019,highlights “that any biopic material in the nature of biography/hagiographysub-serving the purposes of any political entity or any individual entityconnected to it, which is intended to, or which has the potential to disturbthe level playing field during the elections, shall not be displayed inelectronic media including cinematography during the operation of Model Code ofConduct (MCC),” the statement said.
“The ECI has observed that any poster or publicity materialconcerning any such certified content, which either depicts a candidate(including prospective) for the furtherance (or purported to further) ofelectoral prospect, directly or indirectly, shall not be put to display inelectronic/print media without the prescribed instructions of thepre-certification of the ECI’s instructions in the area where the MCC is inoperation.
“The Commission has further mentioned that in anycinematography material certified by the appropriate authority, if there existssuch a violation or receipt of complaints in this regard, a Committee, dulyconstituted by the Commission shall examine the same and suggest appropriateaction. The said Committee shall be headed by a retired Justice of SupremeCourt, or retired Chief Justice of any High Court,” the statement by the stategovernment said.