Issuing fresh guidelines, the Supreme Court on Wednesday restrained the government from using pictures of political leaders, ministers, bureaucrats in government advertisements.
The apex court has also said that photographs of only the President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice Of India, departed leaders, Mahatma Gandhi can be used in government advertisements. The SC added that there is no need for special audits of government advertisements.
The guidelines were issued after two public interest litigation (PIL) were filed alleging that money was being wasted on the hoardings. It also asserted that any such act will be considered as misuse.
The SC had earlier set up a committee for framing guidelines to prevent misuse of public funds by the government and its authorities 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 alsop earlier advocated in court that there was nothing wrong in issuing advertisements and informing the public about the programmes of the government but such advertisement campaigns become arbitrary and malafide when aimed at gaining political mileage
