The Supreme Court today allowed publication of photographs of Governors, Chief Ministers and the Ministers of the department concerned in government advertisements. A Bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi allowed the publication of photos while modifying its earlier order by which the court had permitted photographss of President, Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India only in the government ads.
The verdict came on pleas by Centre and states including poll-bound West Bengal and Tamil Nadu which had sought review of the Supreme Court judgement. The apex court had on March 9 reserved its verdict on the review pleas.
Earlier, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Centre, had strongly favoured review of the verdict on various grounds including that if Prime Minister’s photograph is allowed in the advertisements then the same right should be available to his cabinet colleagues .Attorney General had also said that the Chief Ministers and their cabinet colleagues too should be allowed to feature in advertisements.