Srinagar, Jan 30 : The Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole, IAS, announced the formation of two committees – the State Level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) and the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) within the Chief Electoral Officer’s office. These committees has been constituted for previewing, scrutinizing and verifying all advertisements by individual contesting candidates of political parties before it is inserted in the electronic media during election period. The committee will also keep a check on the cases of paid news.
In a notification issued here today, it was revealed that the constitution of the State Level MCMC, with CEO as the Chairman and a distinguished group of individuals as members, including an Observer appointed by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Director of Information, J&K, and the Additional Director General of PIB, Srinagar. The committee is entrusted with the vital responsibility of deciding on appeals regarding the Certification of Advertisements and examining cases of Paid News.
The State Level MCMC will play a pivotal role in handling appeals related to Certification of Advertisements and Paid News cases. Certification appeals will be managed by specific members, while Paid News cases will be scrutinized by another set of members. The State Level MCMC will exclusively handle appeals from both district and Addl./Jt. CEO Committees.
In addition to the State Level MCMC, a Media Certification and Monitoring Committee has been established within the Chief Electoral Officer’s office. Special Secretary O/O CEO, J&K, will serve as the Chairperson, overseeing a team of members, including the Additional Director General of PIB, Srinagar, who also holds the position of Returning Officer for Jammu Parliamentary Constituency.
This committee is designated to entertain applications for the certification of advertisements for television channels and cable networks from political parties, organisations, groups, or associations within the Union Territory. The Returning Officer of each Parliamentary Constituency has been declared the Designated Officer.
