The Election Commission of India today has effectively put a ban on the broadcast of the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the upcoming election season..The order issued today bans any “political content” that serves the interests of any political entity or is likely to disturb the level playing field during elections. The order states,.“Such ‘political contents’ poses a serious threat to the level playing field as it may create an impression of truthfulness of such content being shown through Television/Cinema/Internat based entertainment programs/social media. And therefore, it is in larger interest of ensuring the level playing field and conduct of free and fair elections that such political content ought to be regulated during the election period to prevent violation of Model Code of Conduct.”.The order goes on to highlight that there is an,. “emergent need for intervention in the matter of those ‘political contents’ which are intended (or purported to be) for benefiting or discrediting the sectoral prospect of any candidate or/and any political party, for ensuring a level playing field.” .In view of this concern, the Commission has issued the following orders, i.e..Biopic material serving the interests of any political entity or having the potential to disturb the level playing filled during elections cannot be displayedPosters, publicity material etc. concerning such content should not be displayed, either in print or electronic mediaComplaints against any violations of these orders would invite action by a Committee to be headed by a retired Supreme Court Justice or a retired High Court Chief Justice.The order was passed in view of complaints made alleging violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in view of the release of certain films, including the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Commission’s order informs,.“It has come to the notice of the Commission that certain political contents, which are not in conformity with the Model Conde of Conduct, are being displayed or interned to be displayed to the public through electronic media including cinematograph in the public, which relates to either a candidate or a political party or a specific achievement of the party in power and these are displayed with the purpose of furtherance of electoral gains during the period of Model Code of Conduct. Also, it has come to the notice of the Commission that there are instances of displaying such political contents on electronic media, which discredit the electoral prospect of candidate or a political party(ies)..So far, the Commission has received complaints about certain cinemas namely ‘NTR Laxmi’, ‘PM Narendra Modi’ and ‘Udyama Simham’, which are claimed to either diminish or advance the electoral prospect of a candidate or a political party in the garb of creative freedom…“.While the Commission admits that such content would not strictly fall under the category of ‘advertisements’, it nevertheless felt the need to intervene in view of apprehensions that it would disturb the level playing field during the elections..The Commission also relied upon the order passed by the Supreme Court yesterday in Aman Panwar v. Union of India wherein the Court had held that the “question of whether the film will tilt the electoral balance in favour of any political party is a question that can and should be addressed by the Election Commission of India.”.Read the ECI order:
The Election Commission of India today has effectively put a ban on the broadcast of the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the upcoming election season..The order issued today bans any “political content” that serves the interests of any political entity or is likely to disturb the level playing field during elections. The order states,.“Such ‘political contents’ poses a serious threat to the level playing field as it may create an impression of truthfulness of such content being shown through Television/Cinema/Internat based entertainment programs/social media. And therefore, it is in larger interest of ensuring the level playing field and conduct of free and fair elections that such political content ought to be regulated during the election period to prevent violation of Model Code of Conduct.”.The order goes on to highlight that there is an,. “emergent need for intervention in the matter of those ‘political contents’ which are intended (or purported to be) for benefiting or discrediting the sectoral prospect of any candidate or/and any political party, for ensuring a level playing field.” .In view of this concern, the Commission has issued the following orders, i.e..Biopic material serving the interests of any political entity or having the potential to disturb the level playing filled during elections cannot be displayedPosters, publicity material etc. concerning such content should not be displayed, either in print or electronic mediaComplaints against any violations of these orders would invite action by a Committee to be headed by a retired Supreme Court Justice or a retired High Court Chief Justice.The order was passed in view of complaints made alleging violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in view of the release of certain films, including the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Commission’s order informs,.“It has come to the notice of the Commission that certain political contents, which are not in conformity with the Model Conde of Conduct, are being displayed or interned to be displayed to the public through electronic media including cinematograph in the public, which relates to either a candidate or a political party or a specific achievement of the party in power and these are displayed with the purpose of furtherance of electoral gains during the period of Model Code of Conduct. Also, it has come to the notice of the Commission that there are instances of displaying such political contents on electronic media, which discredit the electoral prospect of candidate or a political party(ies)..So far, the Commission has received complaints about certain cinemas namely ‘NTR Laxmi’, ‘PM Narendra Modi’ and ‘Udyama Simham’, which are claimed to either diminish or advance the electoral prospect of a candidate or a political party in the garb of creative freedom…“.While the Commission admits that such content would not strictly fall under the category of ‘advertisements’, it nevertheless felt the need to intervene in view of apprehensions that it would disturb the level playing field during the elections..The Commission also relied upon the order passed by the Supreme Court yesterday in Aman Panwar v. Union of India wherein the Court had held that the “question of whether the film will tilt the electoral balance in favour of any political party is a question that can and should be addressed by the Election Commission of India.”.Read the ECI order: