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Only President, PM, CJI's photos can be used in ads: SC tells Govt.

by IBNS 12 May 2015, 08:18 pm

New Delhi, May 13 (IBNS) In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Wednesday restrained the government from using pictures of political leaders, ministers, bureaucrats in government advertisements.

Issuing fresh guidelines, the apex court said  photographs of only the President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice Of India, departed leaders, Mahatma Gandhi can be used in government advertisements. 

The guidelines were issued after two public interest litigation (PIL) were filed alleging that money is being wasted on hoardings, advertisments.  

The SC added that there is no need for special audits of government advertisements.

The SC had earlier set up a committee for formulating guidelines to prevent misuse of public funds by the government in giving advertisements in newspapers and television to get political mileage.

NGO Common Cause in a PIL in 2014 had said that the glorification of politicians linked to the ruling establishment, in order to attain political mileage at the cost of public exchequer, was violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.

Another NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation had also told the court that such advertisement campaigns become arbitrary and malafide when aimed at gaining political mileage.