New Delhi: The Election Commission is learnt to have directed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi on Tuesday to ensure that the content on NaMo TV is pre-certified by the local media certification and monitoring committee.
Such committees are formed at the district and state levels during polls. They clear political campaign and advertisements.
Last week, the EC had issued a notice seeking a report from the information and broadcasting ministry on NaMo TV – launched just weeks ahead of the general election – after opposition parties asked the poll body to direct the ministry to suspend the channel for violating the Model Code of Conduct.
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The EC has also asked the CEO to notify whether the political contents were at any time cleared by the certification committee.
In its response, the I&B ministry said that NaMo TV is an advertisement platform launched by DTH service providers which does not require approval from the government.
The ministry is also learnt to have said that NaMo TV is not a regular channel and it does not figure in the official list of approved channels of the I&B ministry.
As per the existing norms, no approval is required from the ministry to run such advertising platforms, the I&B ministry reportedly told the poll panel.