‘Declare paid news as corrupt practice’

New Delhi: Ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls, the Supreme Court has been moved to declare paid news during Assembly or parliamentary elections as a “corrupt practice” under the Representation of the People Act to set aside the election of that candidate who indulged in paid news to get votes.

BJP spokesperson and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who filed this PIL, said Section 126 of the Representation of People Act, prohibits electioneering activities by way of public meetings, public performances, processions, advertisements through cinematograph, television, radio or similar apparatus for a period of 48 hours up to the time fixed for the conclusion of poll. However, due to lack of clarity, political parties and candidates not only make house-to-house visits but also issue advertisements through Radio, Print Media and Digital Media during this period, including on the polling day. Undoubtedly, a distorted and biased advertisement on the polling day leaves other candidates with no remedy to undo the damage.

He said that according to a study, there were 1987 cases wherein notices for paid news were issued.