Srinagar, Aug 17: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the formation of two Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC) for Jammu and Kashmir.
An order issued by CEO P. K. Pole, reads, “The State Level MCMC will be chaired by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of J&K, Observer appointed by the ECI as member, Director Information J&K as member, Joint Director General PIB Srinagar as member, General Manager (EB) BSNL Jammu as member, Special Secretary to CEO J&K is the member secretary.”
The other members include Editor-in-Chief of Daily Excelsior Mr. Neeraj Rohmetra, Editor-in-Chief of The Rising Kashmir, Mr. Hafiz Ayaz Gani, Dy. Superintendent of Police Jammu will handle social media cybersecurity matters.
As per order, this committee is tasked with reviewing appeals from district and Additional/Joint Chief Electoral Officer Committees on advertisement certifications as per ECI’s order dated 15th April 2004, investigating cases of paid news, and managing appeals on advertisement certification.
A separate MCMC will be established at the CEO’s office, chaired by the Special Secretary to CEO J&K, and will include Joint Director General PIB Srinagar, Dy. Commissioner Jammu (Returning Officer for Jammu Parliamentary Constituency), Dy. Superintendent of Police Jammu, and General Manager (EB) BSNL J&K.
It said that this committee will focus on media certification and monitoring in line with ECI regulations, aiming to ensure transparent and fair media practices during the election process.
The Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) will perform the following functions as mandated by the Election Commission of India. The committee will process applications for advertisement certification from television channels and cable networks submitted by all registered political parties with headquarters in the Union Territory and all organizations, groups, or associations with registered offices in the Union Territory.
Additionally, the Returning Officer of each Parliamentary Constituency will serve as the Designated Officer for handling applications for advertisement certification from individual candidates contesting elections in that constituency and from candidates contesting in Assembly Constituencies within the Parliamentary Constituency.
“Returning Officers may co-opt Assistant Returning Officers, not below the rank of Sub-Divisional Magistrate from the State Provincial Civil Service, to assist with the certification process,” it said.
As per order the State Level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) will perform two key functions.
“Firstly, it will decide appeals from both district and Additional/Joint Chief Electoral Officer Committees regarding advertisement certification, as specified in the Commission’s order dated 15th April 2004.”
Secondly, it will examine all cases of paid news, whether appealed from district MCMC decisions or taken up suo moto, and direct the concerned Returning Officers to issue notices to candidates if needed.
Appeals on advertisement certification will be handled by members (a), (b), (c), and (i), while members (b), (d), (e), and (f) will address paid news cases. It is clarified that appeals regarding certification from district and Additional/Joint CEO Committees will be managed solely by the State Level MCMC, headed by the CEO, in accordance with the Commission’s order dated 15th April 2004, and no additional reference to the Commission is required.
The MCMC in the office of Chief Electoral Officer shall perform functions including the Committee constituted will entertain applications for certification for advertisement on television channels and cable networks.
“All registered political parties have their headquarters in Union Territory. All organizations or groups of persons or associations having their registered offices in Union Territory,” it said.
The order further said that the Returning Officer of every Parliamentary Constituency is hereby declared as Designated Officer for the purpose of entertaining applications for certification of an advertisement proposed to be issued on cable network or television channel by an individual candidate contesting the election from the Parliamentary Constituency of which such Designated Officer is the Returning Officer and candidates contesting in the Assembly Constituencies falling within that Parliamentary Constituency.
“The said returning Officers may co-opt any of the Asstt. Returning Officers not below the rank of a Sub-Divisional Magistrate belonging to the State Provincial Civil Service to assist him/her in the task of certification of applications,” it added.
