WEB DESK
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has said the Press Council of India has recommended an amendment to the Representation of the People Act, 1951 in order to make the incidence of paid news punishable electoral malpractice.
Giving this information in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today, the Minister said the Election Commission has also recommended for including paid news in the category of corrupt practices or electoral offences.
The Minister said the Press Council of India has received 58 cases of paid news during 2018-19 from the Election Commission and others.
He said no specific instance of paid news in electronic media (Private Satellite TV Channels) has been brought to the notice of his ministry.
