Supreme Court may get strict on govt ads

Soon, ministers may not be able to flash their photos in government advertisements using tax-payers money. Multiple advertisements from different ministries on an occasion, too, may be a thing of the past.

A Supreme Court-appointed panel, headed by academician Madhav Menon, has recommended strict guidelines and rules for government advertisements.

Every year, the government’s publicity arm -- Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) -- spends crores to highlight the government’s achievements.

Besides, individual ministries have funds to spend on publicity and advertisement in print and electronic media.

During the UPA regime, Rs 630 crore was spent on Centre’s publicity campaign for the 12th 5-Year-Plan.

The latest report of the I&B ministry shows that DAVP has been provided an outlay of Rs 467.50 crore under the scheme “People’s Empowerment through Development Communication”.

In its report submitted to the SC, the panel recommended that only pictures and names of the President, the Prime Minister, governor and chief ministers can be published in government advertisements.

Even for occasions like Gandhi Jayanti, where different ministries come out with their own advertisements, the panel has recommended that only I&B ministry should place just one advertisement.