EC issued fresh guidelines to keep a check on instances of ‘Paid News’

Paid News, the recent phenomenon causing concern to the Election commission is assuming an alarming proportion as a serious electoral malpractice. To control such activities and to conduct free and fair elections the EC has made some provisions and constituted Media certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC) in all the State and Union Territories. 

The commission asked the candidates to reply within 48 hours for notices sent to them regarding Paid News. It also instructed the State and District level Media Certification & Monitoring Committees to decide on the reply and convey its final decision within 48 hours of receiving the reply. If no such reply is received from the candidate within the stipulated time the decision of the Committee is final.