Collector Saurabh Rao yesterday said that the media monitoring committee formed by the district administration in the wake of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections would not act as a censor board for political ads, only vet various media for objectionable content.

Collector Saurabh Rao

Addressing media persons on Tuesday, Rao said the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) would not interfere in the day-to-day campaigning, and will only keep watch on whether the political news published in newspapers or aired on electronic media are paid news.

He, however, made it clear that if anyone complained against the content of published or aired ads, the committee would hold an inquiry against the candidate concerned.

“The panel would make suo-motu inquiry if committee members themselves feel that the content of any advertisement is found to be objectionable,” said Rao.

He also said that media houses should see that the ads they publish aren’t objectionable.

The district administration has set up the MCMC, which would certify the content of the propaganda of political candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Its expenditure-monitoring cell would keep a check on the money spent by an individual candidate on campaigning through advertisements in newspapers, electronic media or on radio.

The committee, headed by the district collector, has a total of 12 members, including a senior journalist.