COMPENDIUM OF INSTRUCTIONS


MEDIA POLICY

Scheme of Broadcast over Akashvani and Doordarshan by Recognised Political Parties.

Scheme of Broadcast over Akashvani and Docrdarshan by Recognised Political Parties During Election to the Lok Sabha/State Assemblies

1. Facilities of broadcasts on Akashvani and Doordarshen may be given to political parties recognised as 'National' parties and 'State' parties by the Election Commission under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

2 (a) In the case of elections to the Lok Sabha, 'National' and 'State' parties may be given facilities for broadcasting from the principal Akashvani station and Doordarshan Kendra (where there is one) in every State in which general election to the Lok Sabha is to be held.

(b) Broadcast from the principal station in the State will be radiated from all other Akashvani Stations in the State.

(c) In addition, 'National' parties may be given facilities to have Central broadcasts from All India Radio, Delhi and Delhi Doordarshan Kendra which will be relayed from all AIR Stations/Doordarshan Kendras.

(d) In the States where a general election to the Legislative Assembly of the State is held simultaneously with the general election to Lok Sabha, there may not be any need for giving separate time for broadcast/telecast for such Assembly Election.

3. In case a 'State' party recognised by the Election Commission in one or more States under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968, fields a sizeable number of candidates for election in a state in which it is not so recognised, a gist of the election broadcast made by the said 'State' party in any one of the states will be covered in the regional news bulletions of the Radio Stations in that State.

4. Broadcast on Akashvani may be of 30 minutes duration (in two broadcasts of 15 minutes each). Telecast from Doordarshan may be of 15 minutes duration.

5. The dates of Radio broadcasts/telecasts will be predetermined in consultation with the Chief Election Commissioner or his representative, in the case of Central and National Broadcasts/telecasts from Delhi, and the Chief Electoral Officer of the State, in the case of broadcasts/telecasts from the Principal Akashvani Stations and Doordarshan Kendras.

6. The order in which and the dates on which the various recognised political parties may broadcast/telecast from Akashvani and Doordarshan will be determined by draw of matching lots by the authorities concerned as mentioned in item 5 above.

7. The time for radio broadcasts and telecasts at the national level will be as follows :

-----------------Broadcasts..........Between........................and.........................

-----------------Telecasts............Between.........................and.........................

The time for the radio broadcasts and telecasts at the State level will be between...................... and ...............................

8. The actual persons participating in the broadcasts may be chosen by the 'National' or the 'State' parties, as the case may be.

9. The broadcasts on Akashvani/Doordarshan will not permit:

i) Criticism of friendly Countries;

ii) Attack on religions or communities;

iii) Anything obscene or defamatory;

iv) Incitement to violence;

v) Anything amounting to contempt of court;

vi) Aspersions against the integrity of the President and Judiciary;

vii) Anything affecting the unity and integrity of the Nation;

viii) Any criticism by name of any person;

ix) Exhibition of films on or after the date of issue of notification under section 30 of the R.P. Act 1951 and date (s) of poll projecting the image of cine actors and actresses who have joined politics;

x) Sponsored programmes by political parties to telecast/broadcast during election period; and

xi) Telecast/broadcast of programmes of Prime Minister/Chief Ministers/Ministers having a direct relation or bearing on election. However,telecast/broadcast or programmes on official activities of the Prime Minister/Chief Minister/Minister will be permitted.

Note: The parties or their representatives shall submit the script of their broadcast in advance.

10. The 'party' broadcasts will be in addition to any panel discussions or other programmes of political education organised in the course of the ordinary functioning of the broadcasting media.

11. The 'party' broadcast will be made after the notification calling for elections is issued and will be concluded forty eight hours before the end of the first polling date.

12. No.'party' will be allotted time either on Radio or Doordarshan on Sundays.

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