A Parliamentary Panel has asked the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to expeditiously formulate an appropriate policy to curb paid news. In its 12th report, the standing committee on Information and Technology, said that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has submitted notes to the Law Ministry for amendment in the Representation of People Act and the Press Council Act for examination.
The Panel asked the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to take up the matter with Ministry of Law and Justice for expeditious examination of the proposal for amendment of the Representation of People Act and to make paid news a punishable electoral malpractice. It also said to empower the Press Council to adjudicate complains of paid news and giving final judgement in the matter.
The Panel said that after obtaining the viewpoint of the Law ministry, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry should swiftly move towards placing the matter before cabinet and thereafter initiate legislative action for formulating appropriate policy to curb paid news.
The Committee note that private treaties between the media and corporate entities is one of the most dangerous manifestation of paid news. It also emphasized on the need to bring transparency in private treaties and said that all existing guidelines should be strictly enforced in this regard.