The Election Commission's proposal to make paid news an electoral offence in the absence of any specific law to deal with such cases is right. But the Commission should have made such conditions quite in advance since the country is going to the Lok Sabha polls soon. Paid news is an unethical practice that the media should resist. It is both morally and legally wrong. Preventing or controlling paid news is a difficult task since both the givers (political parties) and takers (the media) maintain utmost secrecy. Complaints against paid news are referred to bodies such as the Press Council of India and the National Broadcasters Association. But such complaints without adequate proof are a futile exercise. Even if the allegations are proved, punishments to the candidates must be clearly spelt. Those guilty should be disqualified even if they win. Re-elections are not the answer for such misdeeds.
K V Seetharamaiah Hassan
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number
